South Africa’s primary opposition leader emphasized on Friday morning that the key to rescuing the country is to break the African National Congress’s majority, as only 42% of the votes have been secured by the long-standing ruling party ANC.
This marks a significant decline from the 57.5% it obtained in the previous national election in 2019, although the final results of Wednesday’s election are yet to be announced. In South Africa’s parliamentary system, a minimum of 50% is required for ANC leader President Cyril Ramaphosa to retain his position as president.
John Steenhuisen, the leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party, expressed his belief that the ANC’s vote share will ultimately fall below 40%, which would have far-reaching implications for the country’s political landscape.
The Democratic Alliance, a centrist party, currently holds over 20% of the vote. Other significant parties include the MK party led by former president Jacob Zuma, and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party led by former ANC member Julius Malema.
Steenhuisen highlighted the multicultural voter base of the DA, stating that their support among Black South Africans has doubled since the last election.
He also noted that other parties on the political spectrum have limited and predominantly homogeneous support. While Steenhuisen expressed openness to collaborating with the ANC, he emphasized the need to consult with a coalition of other parties with whom he has a pre-election agreement.
The ANC came into power in 1994 after winning the initial democratic elections in South Africa, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. This marked the end of the Apartheid era.
In recent years, there has been a growing dissatisfaction with the ANC, as many people are unhappy with the high levels of unemployment and the rising cost of living in the country.
The electoral commission has stated that the election results are anticipated to be announced on Sunday, although there is a possibility of an earlier announcement.
