The African National Congress (ANC), faces a historical challenge as partial election results indicate the potential loss of its parliamentary majority after 30 years in power.
Preliminary tallies from over half of the voting districts show the ANC in the lead with 42%, trailed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 23%.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) led by former President Jacob Zuma garnered nearly 11% of the votes, while the Economic Freedom Fighters party secured almost 10%.
Many voters attribute the country’s high levels of corruption, crime, and unemployment to the ANC.
Projections from the respected Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the News24 website suggest the party’s final vote will hover around 42%, a significant decrease from the 57% it secured in 2019.
This scenario would necessitate forming a coalition with other parties to achieve a parliamentary majority.
With the DA advocating liberal economic policies and both the EFF and MK leaning towards more state intervention and nationalization, the choice of coalition partner could profoundly shape South Africa’s future trajectory.
President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s tenure remains uncertain, as the ANC might pressure him to step down if the party fails to secure over 45% of the final vote, according to Prof William Gumede, chairman of the non-profit Democracy Works Foundation.
Initial results indicate substantial losses for the ANC to MK, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where Mr. Zuma’s party leads with 43% compared to the ANC’s 21%.
Mr. Zuma’s decision to campaign for MK after leaving the ANC in December has had a significant impact in KwaZulu-Natal, a pivotal province in determining the ANC’s parliamentary majority.
Despite being barred from running for parliament due to a contempt of court conviction, Mr. Zuma’s name appeared on the ballot paper as MK leader.
A potential MK victory in KwaZulu-Natal could severely weaken the ANC’s position in the province, signaling a significant shift in political landscape.
Additionally, the ANC faces the risk of losing its majority in Gauteng, the economic hub, where it currently holds 36% of the vote compared to the DA’s 29%.
Wednesday’s election witnessed long queues of voters outside polling stations, reminiscent of the historic 1994 election when black people voted for the first time.
