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African press review 28 July 2016

Is South Africa's ruling African National Congress going to lose control of several major cities in next month's local elections? Is the return of Etienne Tshisekedi a good thing for politics in the DRC? And was South Sudan's Salva Kiir right to sack his deputy, Riek Machar?

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BusinessDay in South Africa reports that the latest opinion poll shows the ruling African National Congress losing control of several major cities in next month's local elections . . .

According to the latest poll-based predictions, Johannesburg, the capital, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape could all fall to the opposition Democratic Alliance on 3 August.

The ANC’s support looks set to slip to 31 percent in Johannesburg from 59 percent in the 2011 local elections, and in the Tshwane municipality, which includes Pretoria, to 23 percent from 55 percent. In Nelson Mandela Bay, ruling party support is predicted to fall to just 28 percent, from 52 percent the last time.

BusinessDay says the ANC’s reputation has been damaged by accusations of corruption against President Jacob Zuma and by high unemployment as the country teeters on the edge of economic recession, leaving voters disenchanted.

Thousands greet Tshisekedi's return to Kinshasa

BusinessDay also notes yesterday's return to Kinshasa of Congolese opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.

Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of the Congolese capital yesterday to welcome Tshisekedi after a nearly two-year stay overseas for medical treatment.

His return comes at a crucial moment for the Democratic Republic of Congo, says BusinessDay, as a near-certain delay to presidential elections slated for November risks triggering violence.

President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, is required by term limits to step down this year, but opponents accuse him of delaying the 27 November poll in order to cling to power. The government says logistical and budgetary constraints make it unrealistic to hold the election on time.

Kabila’s opponents hope that Tshisekedi’s return can rally people to the streets after opposition protests over the last year failed to attract large turnouts.

Will sacking South Sudan's VP lead to peace?

Regional paper the East African reports that the United Nations has warned South Sudan's President Salva Kiir that any political appointments must be consistent with a peace deal that ended nearly two years of civil war. The warning follows Kiir's decision to replace his vice president and rival Riek Machar.

Machar left the South Sudanese capital, Juba earlier this month after an eruption of violence.

A peace agreement states that the vice president must be chosen by the South Sudan Armed Opposition. Machar was sworn in as vice president in April.

However, Kiir replaced Machar on Monday with General Taban Deng Gai, a former chief opposition negotiator who has broken ranks with Machar and has the support of some other opposition members.

Kiir's appointment of Deng Gai - a former mining minister - came after the president issued an ultimatum last week, demanding that Machar contact him within 48 hours and return to Juba to salvage the peace deal or face replacement.

Machar has said he will return to Juba only after international troops are deployed as a buffer force to separate his forces from Kiir's.

Shock revelations mark World Hepatitis Day

The Guardian in Nigeria says medical researchers have unveiled reasons why Hepatitis kills more people than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.

The disclosure comes as World Hepatitis Day is observed globally today. The theme for this year’s campaign is: ‘Know Hepatitis – Act Now’. Viral Hepatitis has become one of the leading causes of death and disability across the world.

Symptoms, according to the medical experts interviewed by the Guardian, include fatigue, jaundice and nausea. In many people, however, the infection is without obvious symptoms. As a result, individuals may not know they are infected until they develop serious complications.

The experts disclosed that of the 400 million people diagnosed with the disease each year worldwide, about 23 million are Nigerians, and about five million die from the infection.

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