The African National Congress (ANC) party has lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result. The May 29 elections saw the end of the dominance the ANC has held since the party swept into power with the end of apartheid 30 years ago under Nelson Mandela, marking the beginning of a new political era for South Africa.
The final results confirmed that the ANC received only 40.18 percent votes, well short of the 50 percent threshold. As a result, South Africa will have a coalition government for the first time in its history as a democracy. Despite remaining the largest party, the ANC faced the challenge of negotiating with its main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), to form the ruling coalition and retain support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reelection.
The ANC’s substantial loss reflects the widespread discontent among voters, driven by severe poverty, high unemployment, and inadequate public services. South Africa grapples with one of the highest unemployment rates globally, and voters hold the ANC accountable for persistent issues such as water and electricity shortages and housing deficits.
More than 50 parties participated in the election. The main opposition DA garnered 21.81 percent of the vote. Following this result was former President Jacob Zuma’s new MK Party, securing 14.58 percent, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), with 9.52 percent.
After a dramatic late coalition deal between the ANC and the DA, 71-year-old Ramaphosa was reelected as president by lawmakers for a second term on June 14.