In a historic turn of events, the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa is facing the reality of forming a coalition government after losing its parliamentary majority. With over 91% of voting districts reporting, the ANC’s share of the vote stands at 40.25%, a significant drop from its usual polling above 50% since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
The decline in support for the ANC can be attributed to widespread anger over corruption, high unemployment rates, and crime. One voter, who had been loyal to the ANC for 30 years, switched her allegiance to the Democratic Alliance (DA) this time, citing the cost-of-living crisis and frequent power cuts as reasons for wanting a change in government.
Political analyst Sanusha Naidoo noted that it is unlikely for the ANC to reach the 50% threshold needed to form a government on its own. As a result, the party will need to form a coalition with one or more other parties. However, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe expressed reluctance to align with the DA, currently polling in second place with 22% of the vote, due to differences in policy.
The DA’s leader, John Steenhuisen, has not ruled out the idea of a coalition with the ANC but emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law, fighting corruption, and focusing on economic policies that create jobs. He also ruled out forming a coalition with parties advocating for radical policies like land seizures and nationalizing mines.
As the parties scramble to form alliances, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, leading the African Union election observer mission in South Africa, advised focusing on areas of agreement rather than differences in forming coalition governments. The final election results are expected over the weekend, setting the stage for a new era of governance in South Africa.
