The first results from South Africa’s closely contested elections have been released. With around 14% of the voting districts counted, the African National Congress (ANC) leads with 43%, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 26%. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), led by former President Jacob Zuma, are both at approximately 8%.
Final results are expected over the weekend. Opinion polls suggest the ANC might lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, potentially forcing it into a coalition. The ANC’s support has waned due to widespread dissatisfaction over corruption, crime, and unemployment, but predicting the final outcome remains premature.
Election day saw long lines of voters at polling stations well into the night across the country. A Johannesburg electoral official compared the turnout to the historic 1994 election when black South Africans could vote for the first time, leading to Nelson Mandela’s presidency. Although polls officially closed at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT), the electoral commission ensured that all waiting voters could cast their ballots.
A record 70 parties and 11 independents contested this election, highlighting widespread disillusionment with the ANC. Political analyst Richard Calland remarked, “We are entering the next phase of our democracy, and it is going to be a big transition. We will either become a more competitive and mature democracy, or our politics will become more fractured.”
The DA has preemptively signed a pact with 10 other parties, agreeing to form a coalition government if they garner enough votes to oust the ANC. However, the ANC is expected to remain the largest party and likely to lead a coalition if it falls below 50% support. In the last election, the ANC secured 57.5% of the vote, while the DA received 21%.
South Africans vote for parliamentary members who then elect the president. Hence, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to stay in power. Former President Jacob Zuma, despite being barred from running due to a contempt of court conviction, is leading the MK Party, which is projected to perform well in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. This region has seen high tensions and some violence during the campaign. To ensure peaceful voting and the security of ballot papers, police and the army have been deployed nationwide.
More than 27 million people registered to vote, including many young voters who could be decisive. Artist Njabulo Hlophe, 28, stressed that young people often feel marginalized but emphasized the importance of their vote. Elderly voter Elayne Dykman, 89, expressed hope that the youth do not take their voting rights for granted.
The diverse array of political opinions and the high voter turnout reflect a pivotal moment in South Africa’s democratic journey, with the potential for significant political change on the horizon.
