PRETORIA — The ruling African National Congress (ANC) took a clear lead on Thursday in South Africa's fifth post-apartheid election, giving President Jacob Zuma the political clout to push through pro-business reforms in the face of union and leftist opposition. Burdened with sluggish economic growth and damaging strikes in his first term, the scandal-plagued Zuma has devoted less and less time over the last year to the wishes of unions, whose long walkouts have hit confidence in Africa's most developed economy. He has also batted away opposition from the far left, squelching some expectations the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) - led by his former protege Julius Malema - would ride a wave of populist anger over grinding poverty and high unemployment. —Reuters
