The recent parliamentary election in South Africa resulted in a historic possibility of a coalition government for the first time in the country’s history. With almost 52 percent of the votes counted, the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) received just under 42 percent, a significant decrease from their previous results. This loss of power is around 15 percentage points compared to the 2019 elections, marking a shift in the political landscape.
If the ANC remains below the 50 percent mark, they will need to form a coalition with other parties. This is a significant development considering that the ANC has historically won an absolute majority since the country’s democracy began in 1994. Other parties, such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also made significant gains in the elections.
The preliminary results indicate that the ANC may lose its stronghold in provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with potential implications for the formation of the government. The economic landscape of South Africa, with issues such as ailing state-owned companies, unemployment, power cuts, and corruption, has influenced the outcome of