African Union and Sadc raised concerns about voter intimidation and technology failures at polling stations
DA, MK, and EFF made gains with 22%, 14%, and 9% of votes respectively
South Africa's ANC projected to lose majority in historic elections
South Africa's historic elections held on May 31, 2024, have resulted in a significant shift in the political landscape as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is projected to lose its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. With over 90% of votes counted, ANC has received approximately 41% of national votes, falling short of a simple majority. This development could lead to coalition governments and potentially new elections if parties fail to form alliances within two weeks.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is currently in second place with around 22% of the votes. Two ANC splinter parties, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) led by Jacob Zuma and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have also made significant gains with 14% and 9% of the votes respectively.
The African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc) election observers raised concerns about political party tents camped in front of voting stations, which may have intimidated voters or influenced their decisions. Additionally, voter management technology failures and delays were reported at some polling stations, potentially interfering with the election's integrity and disenfranchising voters.
The ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe has ruled out forming a coalition with the DA due to policy differences regarding black empowerment policies and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. However, DA leader John Steenhuisen has not yet ruled out this possibility and would need to consult pre-election coalition partners first.
Some analysts believe that despite uncertainty, these election results could be a win for democracy and maturity in South Africa's democracy as it forces the ANC to engage with other parties and form alliances. The final results are expected over the weekend.
ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe has ruled out forming a coalition with the DA due to policy differences, specifically regarding black empowerment policies and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has not ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with the ANC but would need to consult pre-election coalition partners first.
Accuracy
]The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its parliamentary majority in South Africa's election with a current vote share of 40.98%.[
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is projected to fall short of a majority for the first time in 30 years after national elections.
The ANC had 41.04% of the votes, while the official opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), had 21.72%.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the authors' position of the ANC losing its parliamentary majority and needing to form a coalition. It also implies that the DA is a potential coalition partner for the ANC without mentioning their opposing views on key policies such as black empowerment and National Health Insurance.
The ANC will have to contend with sharing power after a historic loss of its parliamentary majority.
Despite the ANC’s reluctance to align with the DA, its leader John Steenhuisen hasn’t ruled out the idea.
Support for the DA has grown in this election, with the party having regained the votes of white people who had backed a party to its right in the last election, and some black people who felt it needed to be given a chance in national government.
Fallacies
(85%)
The authors make an appeal to authority when they quote political analyst Sanusha Naidoo stating that the ANC cannot reach the 50% needed to form a government on its own. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when they describe the DA as 'the radical left' and suggest that forming a coalition with them would produce policies that destroyed Zimbabwe and Venezuela.
According to political analyst Sanusha Naidoo, there is no way the ANC could reach the 50% needed to form a government on its own.
The two parties currently form the coalition that runs the country's biggest city, Johannesburg. Another option would be to work with the EFF, led by Julius Malema, a former ANC youth leader. The two parties currently form the coalition that runs the country’s biggest city, Johannesburg. But given the fractious relations between the two parties, that appears unlikely. One possibility would be a coalition between former MK party and the ANC in both KwaZulu-Natal and nationally - but given the fractious relations between the two parties, that appears unlikely. Another option would be to work with the EFF, led by Julius Malema, a former ANC youth leader. The two parties currently form the coalition that runs the country’s biggest city, Johannesburg. But given the fractious relations between the two parties, that appears unlikely. ... The DA's support appears to have grown in this election... Despite the ANC’s reluctance to align with the DA, its leader John Steenhuisen hasn’t ruled out the idea... I think instability is not in the best interest of the country. A coalition with the radical left in South Africa of the MK party and the EFF will produce the same policies that destroyed Zimbabwe, destroyed Venezuela.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is projected to fall short of a majority for the first time in 30 years after national elections.
Voters dealt the ANC a seismic blow due to years of corruption scandals and economic mismanagement.
Political parties have two weeks to form a coalition government before a new parliament must convene to elect the nation’s president. If they fail, new elections will need to be held.
Some analysts believe that despite uncertainty, the results of this election could be a win for democracy and maturity in South Africa’s democracy.
Accuracy
The ANC had 41.04% of the votes, while the official opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), had 21.72%.
Two ANC splinter parties: uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had 13.69% and 9.46% of the votes respectively.
Deception
(80%)
The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The authors use phrases like 'seismic blow', 'frustrated with the country's direction', and 'dealt a rebuke to the ANC' to manipulate emotions and create a sensational narrative. They also focus on the ANC's losses while downplaying or ignoring other parties' gains, giving an incomplete picture of the election results.
Fed-up voters dealt the party of Nelson Mandela a seismic blow at the polls after years of corruption scandals and economic mismanagement.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party is set to fall short of a majority for the first time in 30 years after national elections this week, marking the biggest political shift in the country since the end of apartheid.
The ANC will be forced to form a coalition to govern South Africa, which is the world’s most unequal country.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few examples of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author states that
Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa and the ANC – and once Mandela’s favorite to succeed him as leader – promised a “new dawn” when he took over in 2018 from disgraced former president Jacob Zuma. But many feel those promises never materialized.
There has been “a general arrogance and loss of connection with the general voter from the ANC side,” Verwoerd said, adding that parties like MK and the EFF have capitalized on that discontent.
Analysts CNN spoke to, including Verwoerd,’ believe the most likely coalition is between the ANC and DA. But others are more sceptical of that outcome. They all agree that the country is in uncharted territory.
Election observers from the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc) raised concerns about political party tents camped in front of voting stations potentially intimidating voters or influencing their decisions.
Both AU and Sadc missions expressed concerns over voter management technology failures and delays that may have interfered with the election’s integrity, including disenfranchising voters in some polling stations.
Accuracy
The ANC has lost its outright majority in parliament and will have to find coalition partners for governing.
The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its parliamentary majority in South Africa’s election with a current vote share of 40.98%.
South Africans could face weeks of political uncertainty as the ANC seeks to strike a coalition deal with former rivals.
The African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading with over 40% of the national votes in the South African elections, which is not mentioned in any other article.
If ANC does not receive more than 50% of the votes, it will need to form a coalition government with other parties.
South Africans elect members of the National Assembly who then elect the president by a simple majority.
Accuracy
The African National Congress (ANC) is currently leading with over 40% of the national votes in the South African elections.
The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its parliamentary majority in South Africa’s election with a current vote share of 40.98%.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is projected to fall short of a majority for the first time in 30 years after national elections.
