South Africa’s main opposition leader declared on Friday morning that breaking the African National Congress’s majority is “the way to rescue South Africa,” as 60% of votes have been counted, showing the long-time ruling party ANC holding just under 42%.
This represents a significant drop from the 57.5% the ANC received in the last national election in 2019, though final results from Wednesday’s election have yet to be declared.
To retain the presidency under South Africa’s parliamentary system, ANC leader and President Cyril Ramaphosa needs more than 50% of the vote.
“They’re going to end up in the low forties,” said John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party. “And that obviously opens up a whole new universe for politics in South Africa.”
Other major parties include the MK party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party, headed by former ANC member Julius Malema.
Steenhuisen claimed that the DA has a multicultural voter base, stating, “If I look at our growth amongst Black South Africans, it’s doubled from the last election.”
He added, “If I look to the parties to the left and right of me, they’re able to draw from very limited pools of voters, and they’re virtually monochromatic.”
Steenhuisen expressed openness to working with the ANC, though he would first need to consult with a group of other parties with which he has a pre-election agreement.
The ANC first gained power in 1994, when the party, led by Nelson Mandela, won the country’s first democratic elections, signaling the end of Apartheid rule.
Widespread discontent with the ANC has grown in recent years, with many frustrated by the country’s unemployment and high cost of living.
The electoral commission expects to announce the results by Sunday, though they could be released sooner.
