ANC historically loses majority in crucial South African election

By Charity Nginyu

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has suffered a significant blow in the recent national election, marking the first time since the country transitioned to democracy three decades ago that it has lost its outright majority.

The final results according to DW revealed a staggering drop for the ANC, with their support plummeting to just 40.18%, a stark contrast to the 57.5% they secured in the previous election in 2019.

This seismic shift in South Africa’s political landscape has left President Cyril Ramaphosa facing daunting challenges ahead.

With coalition talks expected to be protracted and messy, the future governance of the nation hangs in the balance.

The ANC’s failure to secure outright majorities in three of South Africa’s nine provinces further highlights the magnitude of this electoral setback.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) clinched victory in the Western Cape Province, while the newly-formed uMkhonto we Sizwe party (MK), led by former president Jacob Zuma, secured a victory in KwaZulu-Natal, traditionally an ANC stronghold.

Additionally, the province of Gauteng, encompassing economic powerhouse Johannesburg and the executive capital Pretoria, witnessed a significant decline in ANC support.

This election marks a watershed moment in South Africa’s democratic journey, as the ANC, once synonymous with the fight against apartheid and led by anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, grapples with its worst electoral performance since the end of apartheid.

President Ramaphosa, acknowledging the will of the people, stated, “Our people have spoken whether we like it or not.”