Mandela's ANC loses majority for first time since end of apartheid

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, votes in the general election Photo: AP/Jerome Delay

The African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since end of apartheid, and voters are angry about unemployment, inequality and a lack of power.

By Saturday evening, almost 99 percent of the votes had been counted, and the once dominant ANC party — the party that Nelson Mandela brought to power at the end of apartheid — had gained just more than 40 percent of the vote.

The fall from a 57.5 percent share in 2019 comes after years of economic mismanagement and corruption that have led to widespread poverty, extremely high unemployment and disruptions in public services.

Despite being Africa's most developed economy, South Africa's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world at 32 percent, while millions of people struggle with regular water and electricity shortages.

'It was an eye-opener'

Many voters saw the election as a chance to change direction, with the slogan '2024 is our 1994' circulating on social media and on campaign posters.

«I'm actually shocked,» said Maropene Ramokgopa, an ANC spokesman. “It opened our eyes to say, 'Look, we're missing something somewhere.'

 Opposition parties hailed the end of the ANC's 30-year majority as a significant breakthrough.

“ The way to save South Africa is to break the ANC majority, and we have done that,” said John Steenhuisen, leader of the centrist Democratic Alliance (DA).

The election has put one of the continent's most stable countries on an uncharted course, with the ANC now having to share power with a rival to retain it — an unprecedented prospect.

«We can talk to anyone and everyone,» Gwede Mantashe, the ANC chair and mines and energy minister, told reporters.

Jacob Zuma, the former South African president whose ITUC could play a decisive role in forming the next government. Photo: Rogan Ward/Reuters

The ANC could seek a left-wing alliance with the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (UMP), led by Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, or the populist Economic Freedom Fighters; or it could turn to the largest opposition party, the DA, which polled 21.7 percent of the vote.

The CP said one of the conditions of any agreement is the removal of Cyril Ramaphosa — the current president — as leader of the ANC.

“We are ready to negotiate with the ANC, but not with Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC,” said party spokesman Nhlamulo Ndlela.

The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters, which received about 9.5% of the vote, said it would talk to all parties about forming part of the new government.

“We want to humble the ANC”

“We have fulfilled our mission… to reduce the ANC's share below 50 percent.» . We want to humiliate the ANC,” said Julius Malema, the party leader who is also a former ANC youth leader. 

According to the constitution, the National Assembly of South Africa must meet within 14 days to elect a speaker and president after the results are announced.

Investors in Africa's most industrialized economy are hoping the uncertain picture will clear up quickly. The MKP and the Economic Freedom Fighters have called for the nationalization of parts of the economy, while the DA is seen as a business-friendly party. 

Insiders say Mr Ramaphosa's allies prefer an investor-friendly deal with a business-friendly DA that would keep him at the helm.

Nomvula Mokonyane (left), deputy general secretary of the ANC, arrives at the Independent Electoral Commission's National Results Center at the Gallagher Conference Centre. Photo: Phil Magako/AFP via Getty Images

But some of Mr Ramaphosa's detractors argue for the party's alliance with the Economic Freedom Fighters and MKP, which could mean the president would be ousted or forced to resign.

< p>Analysts say one option for the ANC could be a “government of national unity” involving a wide range of many parties rather than a formal coalition among a few — an arrangement similar to that created after the historic 1994 vote.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout is expected to be around 60 people. cents, according to the independent Electoral Commission, which administers the election.

Full and final results are expected to be published on Sunday.