South Africa Elections: A Crucial Test for ANC's Three Decades in Power

Millions of South Africans are participating in a significant general election, which is predicted to be the most crucial one since the apartheid era ended.

Recent polls have indicated that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party might not secure a majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela guided it to victory in 1994.

While conducting polls in South Africa may pose some difficulties, many experts think that the ANC is currently facing its toughest test yet, as the population is feeling increasingly dissatisfied with the country's current path. If the ANC's support falls below 50% for the first time, the party will have no choice but to form a coalition government.

SOUTH AFRICA GENERAL ELECTION 101

South Africa uses a “proportional representation” system.

Citizens cast a vote for a single party (not a presidential candidate).

Voters will have 31 political parties to choose from in the national elections.

The process is facilitated by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

ANC leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described Wednesday’s vote as “one of the most crucial elections in our country’s history” when speaking to a large crowd at Soweto’s FNB soccer stadium on Saturday.

Ramaphosa emphasized, “It is up to our people to choose if we keep progressing with the ANC towards a positive future or regress to a dark past.”

The South African leader voted at a polling station in Soweto on Wednesday.

According to the World Bank, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world. Citizens are also facing challenges such as the highest sustained rate of unemployment, widespread corruption, weak economic growth, frequent power cuts, and increasing violent crime.

Black South Africans, representing 81% of the population, are disproportionately affected by this challenging situation. The Black majority continues to face high levels of unemployment and poverty, largely attributed to the shortcomings of public education. In contrast, most White South Africans are employed and receive significantly higher salaries.

Workers for political parties including the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) stand next to a voting station on May 27 in Alexandra Township, South Africa.

Workers from political parties like the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were seen standing near a voting station in Alexandra Township, South Africa on May 27.

Image Source: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images

Many voters in Johannesburg went to cast their votes right after the polls opened at 7 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) on Wednesday. They shared their hopes for a new direction for the country.

Sydney Radebe, a 66-year-old actor and filmmaker, expressed his desire for change. He emphasized, "We want to see the change. This is a wealthy country, but many people have nothing. We lack land, property... you can't claim to be 'free' when you don't own anything."

Sydney Radebe

Sydney Radebe

Radebe was one of the first people to vote at a large polling station in Johannesburg. It was a chilly morning as winter approached in the Southern Hemisphere. The line of voters slowly started to grow in Joubert Park.

Events worker Newton Ugboh, 20, was voting for the first time. “I’m looking for change so I came early in the morning,” he said.

Newton Ugboh

Newton Ugboh

Sarah Dean/CNN

Ugboh mentioned that some of his friends were hesitant to vote because they felt that nothing would change. However, he emphasized that there are significant challenges that young people are dealing with in the country.

He pointed out that the unemployment rate is alarmingly high, describing it as a major issue. Ugboh also shared that many of his friends are struggling to secure employment opportunities.

Healthcare worker Roselyne Tswakae, 46, said she’s worried about the future of South Africa’s youth and also believes “it’s time for change.”

Roselyne Tswakae

Roselyne Tswakae

Sarah Dean/CNN

Young South Africans were told that education would be the pathway to success. However, many find themselves unemployed after attending university, leading them to engage in activities such as drugs, drinking, and smoking.

Tswakae expressed hope for a brighter future amidst these challenges.

At the very end of a long line in Joubert Park is Ncumisa Xabanisa, a 40-year-old woman. She shared that she has been voting for the same party since 1994 and remains loyal to the ANC. "It’s the only party for me, it’s a part of my home, my grandmother, I grew up knowing them," Xabanisa told CNN.

According to Xabanisa, the major issue facing the country is the lack of jobs. She expressed, "Some of us went to school, graduated, but our certificates feel like they're just for show. It's really painful."

The mother-of-two mentioned that she is educated but currently spends most of her time at home, selling plastic food containers to support herself.

There are a total of 52 parties listed on the national ballot for this election, including new parties established by former ANC members like ex-President Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK).

Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie walked hand in hand, raising clenched fists as he was released from Victor prison in Cape Town on Sunday, February 11, 1990. Mandela, a leader of the African National Congress, had been in detention for more than 27 years.

Greg English/AP

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South Africa has not met the needs of its Black population. There is a possibility that Nelson Mandela’s political successors could face consequences for this.

Zuma was compelled to step down as president in 2018 and was briefly imprisoned in 2021 for disrespecting the court. Despite being prohibited from seeking a parliamentary position after the Constitutional Court's decision that five years must pass after serving a sentence, his party will still participate in the election and his name will be on the ballot.

Many of the largest parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), held their final rallies this weekend after a heated few months of election campaigning.

DA leader John Steenhuisen addressed supporters in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, stating that the ANC will lose the outright majority it has abused for decades. He mentioned that the ANC has subjected the people to unemployment, corruption, and misrule. The DA has formed a coalition bloc with smaller opposition parties called the Multi-Party Charter.

South Africa is currently holding its seventh general election since the end of white minority rule 30 years ago. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported that a record number of 27.79 million people are registered to vote, the highest number so far.

Editor's P/S:

The South African general election is a momentous event that holds significant implications for the nation's future. The potential loss of majority by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is a testament to the growing dissatisfaction among the population. The country faces pressing challenges, including economic stagnation, rampant unemployment, and social inequality.

The aspirations of voters, particularly the youth, paint a vivid picture of the change they seek. They demand economic opportunities, improved education, and a brighter future for themselves and their communities. The election results will shape South Africa's trajectory, determining whether the country can break free from its current path and embark on a new era of progress and prosperity.