TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from South Africa: Al Jazeera English, The Guardian.
UK coverage: Al Jazeera English.

In a historic turn of events, South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has lost its majority in the country’s elections for the first time in 30 years. The ANC’s support dropped to 40.2% from 57.5% in the previous parliamentary vote, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among voters over joblessness, inequality, and power outages. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for unity among political parties and urged them to find common ground for the good of the country. The ANC will now seek a partner to form a new government or consider forming a minority government.

The final results of the elections confirm the ANC’s loss of majority, firing the starting gun on unprecedented coalition talks. The ANC won just 159 seats in the 400-member national assembly, with a vote share of just over 40%. This seismic shift in South African politics can be attributed to high unemployment, power cuts, violent crime, and crumbling infrastructure, which have eroded support for the once-dominant party.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, won 87 seats, while uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), a new party led by President Ramaphosa’s bitter rival, former President Jacob Zuma, secured 58 seats. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a Marxist-Leninist party led by the ousted ANC youth leader Julius Malema, gained 39 seats.

The ANC also lost its majority in three provinces: Northern Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. This outcome necessitates coalition-building to form a government. President Ramaphosa, despite facing questions about his future, has emphasized the need for parties to work together and find common ground to address the needs of the people.

The ANC’s weakened position has opened up possibilities for coalition partnerships. While a tie-up with the DA could be favored by the more business-friendly wing of the ANC, concerns have been raised about the DA’s perceived favoritism towards white interests. Another option is a coalition with the EFF, which would require another partner to surpass the 50% threshold. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which took 17 seats, is often mentioned as a potential partner, as it garners support from the Zulu community.

The ANC’s poor performance in the elections has raised doubts about President Ramaphosa’s future. Some opposition parties, including Zuma’s MK party, have demanded his resignation as a condition for coalition talks. However, the ANC has made it clear that Ramaphosa’s position is non-negotiable.

The next steps in the process involve the allocation of seats in the National Assembly based on the election results, followed by the first sitting of the assembly within 14 days. During this sitting, the newly elected members will be sworn in, and the president of South Africa will be elected. The president will then appoint the cabinet and form the government.

South Africa is experiencing a significant political shift with the ANC losing its majority. The outcome of the coalition talks and the subsequent formation of the government will shape the country’s future trajectory. As the nation navigates this critical juncture, the expectations of the people for their leaders to work together and address their needs have become more pronounced.