South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), is set to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time following a significant drop in support in the recent election, Associated Press reports.
With over 97% of votes counted, the ANC secured just over 40%, a considerable decline from its peak of 70% in 1994. While the ANC still holds the largest share of votes, it is now poised to negotiate a coalition government with other parties to remain in power, raising questions about the future leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The outcome of coalition negotiations is uncertain, with potential partners including opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), the MK Party, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), each with differing ideologies.
Despite the uncertainty, opposition parties view the electoral outcome as a positive change for South Africa, which grapples with widespread poverty, high unemployment, and inadequate government services.
