On Sunday, June 2nd, results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa’s national election showed that the African National Congress (ANC) party has lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades. This dramatic political shift reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with persistent issues such as unemployment, inequality, power shortages, and corruption.
The ANC, which has dominated South African politics since the end of apartheid in 1994, secured only 40.18% of the vote, with 99.87% of polling stations reporting. This is a significant drop from the 57.5% it achieved in the 2019 elections. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), garnered 21.81%; while the newly formed, 5-month old, uMkhonto weSizwe, led by former President Jacob Zuma, obtained 14.58%. The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) received 9.52% of the vote.
The election results mean that the ANC will need to form a coalition government for the first time in its history. ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe suggested that the party is open to discussions with various potential coalition partners, although no specific alliances have been confirmed. “We can talk to everybody and anybody,” Mantashe stated.
The ANC’s decline is attributed to numerous challenges faced by the country over the past decade. Economic stagnation, high unemployment rates, and failing infrastructure have eroded public trust in the ruling party. Additionally, the ANC has been plagued by internal divisions and corruption scandals, further diminishing its support base.
Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party performed exceptionally well in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, capturing 42.7% of the vote compared to the ANC’s 21.4%. This strong regional showing by the uMkhonto weSizwe party coupled with its impressive numbers in other provinces throughout the country underscores the deep divisions within the ANC and the potential for continued political instability.
Despite the ANC’s poor performance, President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to retain his position, as the ANC remains the largest party. However, Ramaphosa will face increased pressure from both opposition parties and factions within the ANC. Coalition negotiations are expected to be complex and could lead to significant political volatility in the coming weeks.
