The African National Congress (ANC) has suffered a significant defeat in South Africa’s election, losing its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. The party must now form a coalition government, but some opposition parties are demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down before they agree to partner with the ANC.
The ANC has begun secret negotiations with other parties to form a governing coalition, a first for the party that has led the country since 1994. However, analysts say the party’s losses and the pressures it will face from potential allies have cast a shadow over Ramaphosa’s future.
With nearly all votes counted, the ANC has won about 40% of the mandate, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 21%, and the uMKhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, with 15%. The MK party has won 45% of the vote in KwaZulu Natal, Zuma’s home province, and has ruled out a deal with the ANC unless Ramaphosa is removed.
Ramaphosa faces intense pressure to resign or be ousted, according to analysts. The ANC’s declining voter support is attributed to deteriorating public infrastructure, social inequalities, and rising crime, as well as personal corruption scandals involving Ramaphosa and other ANC officials.
The surge of Zuma’s MK party has also contributed to the ANC’s losses, with the two leaders having a bitter history. Zuma was forced to resign as president in 2018 due to corruption scandals, and Ramaphosa has since fallen out with his former boss.
Analysts predict a difficult coalition ahead, with the ANC facing limited options. A grand coalition with the DA might offer a more stable governing alliance, but critics accuse the DA of prioritizing the interests of the white minority. A national unity government is also an option, but both scenarios come with challenges.
The ANC must consider whether removing Ramaphosa will actually help the party recover, and whether it can put the country ahead of its own interests. The future of South Africa’s government hangs in the balance, as the country waits to see what coalition will emerge from the negotiations.
