South Africa’s General Election Results Revealed
South Africa recently concluded its general election, with the final results showing a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. The African National Congress (ANC), which had been the dominant party since 1994, saw a decrease in its support, dropping from 57 percent in the previous election to 40 percent this time around. This resulted in the ANC losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in decades, winning 159 out of 400 seats in the National Assembly.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, gained 87 seats with nearly 22 percent of the votes. A new player in the political arena, Spear of the Nation (MK), founded by former President Jacob Zuma, made an impressive debut, securing 14.6 percent of the votes and becoming the third largest party with 58 seats in parliament. Zuma, who was recently sentenced to prison for contempt of court, played a significant role in the ANC’s loss of majority.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the third party in the previous election, also saw a decline in support, dropping to 9.5 percent. Other parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), and Freedom Front Plus (VF) also secured seats in parliament.
With the ANC now needing support from other parties to elect a president, coalition talks are expected to take place in the coming days. The Multi-Party Convention (MPC) alliance, led by the DA, currently has 116 MPs and could play a crucial role in the formation of a coalition government.
Looking ahead to the 2024 general election, South Africa will likely see further shifts in its political landscape as new parties emerge and existing ones adapt to the changing dynamics. With voter turnout at 58.6 percent in this election, the South African electorate remains engaged and eager for change.
