ANC could lose its majority in the South African election's preliminary outcomes.
In the initial findings, the mightiest force appeared to be the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), spearheaded by former ANC figure Julius Malema, with nine percent. The newly formed MK party of ex-President and ANC Chairman Jacob Zuma came in second with eight percent. The definitive results would be determined at the weekend.
Political scientist Daniel Silke declared that the ANC had faced a "massive setback." He further commented, "This comes as a surprise for the entire ANC system and will eventually shock the average South African, having been accustomed to ANC rule since 1994." Silke continued, "This election redefines the political landscape of South Africa and generates some indecision."
If President Cyril Ramaphosa's party fails to surpass 50 percent, he might need to forge alliances to achieve re-election and govern. This milestone marks a drastic shift in the trajectory of the nation, which held its first fair, democratic elections in 1994.
Due to its critical role in dismantling racial segregation and the dominance of a white minority population, the ANC retains reverence. Its initiatives aimed at boosting the prospects of the black majority population have aided millions of black families in overcoming poverty.
Regrettably, a string of corruption scandals within the ANC's leadership, high unemployment, a fragile economy, inequality, and perennial power outages have prompted numerous South Africans to distrust the ruling party.
Just over 27.6 million registered citizens were urged to vote on Wednesday. In a multitude of electoral areas, people endured long queuing times, with polling stations extending their hours in response to heavy voter turnout and a spate of city dwellers arriving at the polls late, as indicated by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The turnout was anticipated to surpass the 66 percent of 2019.
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