By By Muminat Ajide
For the first time in 30 years, South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), fell short of winning a majority in the national election.
This year’s highly contested election, held on Wednesday, featured 70 political parties and attracted 28 million registered voters. The official results, announced on South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission portal, reveal that the Cyril Ramaphosa-led ANC secured 40.21% of the votes, a significant decrease from the 57% it garnered in 2019.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), led by John Steenhuisen, emerged as the second-largest party with 22% of the vote, while the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe, led by former President Jacob Zuma, captured 15% of the vote, displacing Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which garnered 9%.
With the ANC failing to secure over 50% of the votes, it will need to enter into a coalition with other parties to form a government. In South Africa’s electoral system, voters elect parliamentarians who then choose the president.
Historically dominant, the ANC has had a succession of presidents, including iconic figures like Nelson Mandela (1994-1999), Thabo Mbeki (1999-2008), Kgalema Motlanthe (2008-2009), Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), and Cyril Ramaphosa (2018-present). However, the party now finds itself in a position where coalition-building is necessary.
While coalition negotiations are underway, Malema has expressed willingness for his EFF party to collaborate with the ANC, stating, “If there is one party we can work with, it’s the ANC because when the ANC is comprised, they are not arrogant, you can work with them.”
