South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst electoral performance since the end of apartheid in 1994, securing only 40.21% of the votes in the May 29 elections. This marks a significant decline from the party's previous parliamentary majority and necessitates negotiations with coalition partners to form a government.
The ANC has been South Africa's ruling party since democracy was established, but its recent poor showing can be attributed to several factors. Some argue that the party began attracting individuals interested in power and political patronage, contributing to its downfall. Others point to endemic corruption as a major issue.
Former President Jacob Zuma made allegations of election rigging at the official declaration of the results, adding a wildcard to coalition talks. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are among the parties that have expressed interest in forming alliances with the ANC.
South Africans do not directly vote for their president. Instead, they elect members of the National Assembly, who then elect the president by a simple majority. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) will announce the official results within two weeks, and officials with the ANC have expressed their desire for President Cyril Ramaphosa to continue in his role for a second term.
The May 29 elections saw record voter registration and high voter turnout. The ANC's losses were particularly significant in provinces such as Limpopo, Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The implications of these election results for South Africa's future are far-reaching. The country is facing numerous challenges including economic instability and high unemployment rates. It remains to be seen how the new government will address these issues.
