African National Congress loses absolute majority
The ruling party of South Africa, the historic African National Congress (ANC), would win the general elections this Wednesday, but would lose the absolute majority with which it has governed since Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994, according to the first results published this Thursday by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). With the vote count still at 13.45%, the downward trend predicted by the pre-election polls continues and the ANC currently falls to 42.49%, and that is why the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, would have to agree with other formations to opt for a second term of five more years.
The Democratic Alliance consolidates itself as the main opposition party
In second place is the Democratic Alliance (AD, liberal center-right) of John Steenhuisen with 26.12% of the votes, far improving the result of 2019, when it obtained 20.77%. The AD is the main opposition party, heir to the white political leadership that opposed the segregationist apartheid regime and traditionally associated with the vote of the white minority, which represents 7.70% of the South African population.
The Economic Freedom Fighters and Jacob Zuma’s new party
Third place is occupied by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF, far left) of Julius Malema, with 8.40%, and in fourth place is uMkhonto weSizwe (Partit MK), the new party of former president Jacob Zuma ( 2009-2018), with 7.75%. Zuma tried to contribute to the elections as head of the new political formation, but the Constitutional Court prevented him from doing so in the middle of the electoral campaign, since he was sentenced in 2021 to fifteen months in prison for contempt.
The South African political landscape and future challenges
However, the appearance of the MK has influenced the division of the vote in the ANC, also punctuated by cases of corruption such as those carried out by Zuma himself and worn down by the problems that affect the country, such as high unemployment, crime or electrical outages. Nearly 28 million South Africans were called to the polls this Wednesday in a total of 23,293 polling stations, of which 3,132 have already been counted, according to the IEC.
The final results will be announced in the coming days, but these first results indicate a significant change in the South African political landscape. The ANC, which has ruled the country for decades, faces the loss of its absolute majority, which will require President Ramaphosa to seek alliances with other parties to remain in power. On the other hand, the Democratic Alliance consolidates itself as the main opposition party, while the Economic Freedom Fighters and Jacob Zuma’s new party also obtain representation in Parliament.
These results reflect the challenges and changes in South African society, as well as the diversity of political options that citizens have at their disposal. The country faces significant challenges in terms of inequality, corruption and economic development, and the results of these elections will set the political and social course of South Africa for years to come.
