The ANC, founded by Nelson Mandela, saw a sharp decline from the 57.5% it achieved in the 2019 parliamentary elections. This historic drop means the ANC must now seek coalition partners to hold onto power.
“We are open to discussions with all parties,” said ANC chair and current mines and energy minister Gwede Mantashe, when asked about potential coalition alliances.
With 99.53% of polling stations reporting, the ANC stood at 40.21%, the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 21.80%, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) at 14.60%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at 9.48%.
“Our goal was to reduce the ANC’s share to below 50%. We have succeeded,” said EFF leader Julius Malema. Nevertheless, even with a coalition, the ANC will need additional partners to form a majority.
Since the pivotal 1994 elections that ended apartheid, the ANC has been the dominant political force. However, over the last decade, economic stagnation, increasing unemployment, and infrastructure breakdowns have significantly reduced its popularity.
MK’s strong performance, especially in Jacob Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, played a crucial role in diminishing the ANC’s majority. Experts suggest that the ANC might consider a “government of national unity,” involving a broad coalition, similar to the post-1994 setup.
Investors are eager for a quick resolution to the political uncertainty to avoid prolonged coalition talks. Meanwhile, concerns about vote-counting irregularities have been raised by some parties, with the electoral commission promising to address these issues.
Despite the election results, President Cyril Ramaphosa may retain his position due to the ANC's lead over other parties. However, he could face pressure to resign from both opposition and internal critics.
The final election results, expected on Sunday, will likely outline the new political landscape and coalition government structure for South Africa.
