The party that freed South Africa from apartheid lost the general election after 30 years

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The African National Congress (‘ANC’) party has lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election that has set South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of the white minority apartheid system 30 years ago.

With nearly 99% of votes counted, Wednesday’s election saw the once-dominant ANC win just over 40% of the vote, well short of the majority it has enjoyed since the famous 1994 vote that ended apartheid and brought Nelson Mandela to power.Final results have not yet been formally declared by the independent electoral commission that oversees the polls.

Although opposition parties hailed it as a significant development for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remains the largest party, but now A coalition partner or partners must be found to remain in government and re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Following national elections, Parliament elects the South African President.

put the result The end of three decades of ANC dominance The path ahead for South Africa’s young democracy but Africa’s most advanced economy promises to be complex, and South Africa still has no coalition at the table.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, won about 21%. The new MK party is led by former president Jacob Zuma, who has distanced himself from it ‘ANC’ He who once led, remained inside Ranked third with over 14% of the votes The first election in which he participated.

‘ANC’ could still govern, coalition likely

The urgency now is to determine which parties the ANC can form a coalition with to govern Within 14 days of the official announcement, Parliament must meet and elect the PresidentThe election results are expected to set off a series of negotiations, which are likely to be complex.

The ‘MK’ party has set out one of its conditions for any agreement as the removal of Ramaphosa As the leader and president of the ‘ANC’.

“Our wish is to negotiate with the ANC, but not with Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC,” said MK spokesperson Nlamulo Ndlela.

More than 50 parties participated in the national electionsBut given how far the ANC is from achieving a majority, it will likely have to approach one of the three main opposition parties.

‘MK’ and the far-left party, ‘Fighters for Economic Freedom’ have called for this Nationalization of parts of the economy.The Democratic Alliance, a centrist party seen as business-friendly, may be more welcoming to foreign investors in alliance with the ANC.

Despite uncertainty, South African opposition parties celebrate new political image A much-needed change for a country of 62 million inhabitantsWhich is the most developed in Africa but has one of the most unequal countries in the world.

The results are clear: South Africa wants change

The ANC has fought to improve the living standards of millions of South Africans, but poverty remains a serious problem. The official unemployment rate is 32%One of the highest in the world, and disproportionately affects black people, who make up 80% of the population and have been the core of the ANC’s support for years.

Moreover, the ‘ANC’ has been blamed for this – and apparently punished by voters Failure to provide basic government services Which affects millions of people and leaves them without water, electricity or adequate housing.

“We’ve been saying this for the last 30 years The way to save South Africa is to break up the ANC majorityAnd we have achieved it,” declared Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote, and it is expected Participation is 60%According to data from the independent Election Commission, which monitors elections.