The African National Congress (ANC), in power since the advent of democracy and the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994, received 40.21% of the votes in the ballot, according to almost final results.
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After thirty years of rule in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the advent of democracy and the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994, has lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly. According to the results of the Electoral Commission on Saturday, after counting 99.85% of the votes, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party collected 40.21% of the votes in Wednesday’s poll and recorded a large setback, dipping significantly below the bar. criticism of the 50%.
The largest opposition party (Democratic Alliance, DA) gathered 21.79% of the votes cast. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party of ex-president Jacob Zuma, born only a few months before the election, achieved a performance of 14.61%, while the left-wing radicals of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) remained at 9.48%.
The final results of the most contested election in the country’s democratic history are due to be announced on Sunday but are already contested by certain candidates, notably Jacob Zuma. “No one must declare [les résultats] tomorrow. If that happens, you will provoke us.”, warned the 82-year-old former president. His incarceration in July 2021 for contempt caused unrest, which left more than 350 people dead.
Until now, the all-powerful ANC had won every national election by a large majority. But the disillusionment of 62 million South Africans this time overcame a long-unfailing loyalty to the movement that freed the country from the yoke of apartheid.
