South Africa's Election Shows Potential for Major Political Change

Early indications from the South African election show that the ANC party may not hold the majority for the first time in three decades. At 10 a.m. local time, the ANC had 42.5% support based on results from 13% of polling stations.

The country's electoral commission revealed that the Democratic Alliance (DA), the official opposition party, received 26% of the vote. Meanwhile, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a splinter party of the ANC, secured 8.4%.

According to the respected research group CSIR, by mid-morning Thursday, their data suggested that the ANC might win less than 45% of the national poll.

Officials from the Independent Electoral Commission have emphasized that the official count may take a few days, especially for larger voting districts.

Historically, results from rural areas, which are strongholds for the ANC, have been reported later, often contributing to increased support for the party.

Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie are seen walking hand in hand with clenched fists raised upon his release from Victor prison in Cape Town on Sunday, February 11, 1990. Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress, had been in detention for more than 27 years.

Greg English/AP

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Once all the votes are tallied, if the ANC falls below 50%, it will have to create a coalition with other parties. If its support drops significantly, it might have to join forces with a major opposition party like the DA or EFF to stay in control.

Another ANC splinter party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), led by former President Jacob Zuma, seems to be gaining popularity in KwaZulu-Natal, the province where Durban is located. As of 10am local time, MK had 42.3% of the votes, while the ANC had 20.1%.

Zuma, who has been a vocal critic of current ANC leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, was forced to step down as leader in 2018. In 2021, he spent a short time in jail for contempt of court at the age of 82. Despite being disqualified from running for parliament last week by the Constitutional Court, his name still appeared on the ballot.

South Africa’s electoral commission typically announces the final election results before the seven-day deadline required by law. This year, the commission has scheduled Sunday, June 2, as the official day for announcing the final results.

If the ANC loses its majority, they will have 14 days after the final results are declared to establish a new government before a new parliament must meet to select the country's president.

Editor's P/S:

This election marks a potential turning point in South African politics. The ANC's dominance has been a defining feature of the post-apartheid era, and its decline would signify a major shift in the country's political landscape. The rise of other parties, such as the DA and EFF, reflects the growing dissatisfaction among South Africans with the ANC's performance, particularly its failure to address economic inequality and corruption.

The outcome of this election will have significant implications for South Africa's future. A coalition government could lead to increased political instability and gridlock, while a decisive victory for the opposition could open the door to a new era of governance. It remains to be seen whether the ANC can regain its former strength or whether South Africa is on the cusp of a new political era.