What’s Next for South Africa After Unprecedented Election Results?
For the first time ever, the ruling African National Congress did not secure an outright majority in the polls, signaling a historic turning point for South African politics.
While the African National Congress (ANC) still received the highest percentage of votes at 40.18 percent, it will need to form a coalition with other parties in order to secure enough parliamentary seats to form a government.
In the results announced on Sunday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) came second at 21.81 percent, while the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party came in third at 14.58 percent. A total of 16,290,156 South Africans showed up to the polls, marking a 58.64 percent turnout, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
“We are all called upon to recognise that the results of the election, in the end, reflect the will of the people. What this election has made plain, is that the people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs,” President Cyril Ramaphosasaid, during a press briefing held at Results Operation Centre in Midrand following the announcement of the results. He added that “the people” expect the parties they have voted for to “find common ground.”
How do coalitions work?
According to the South African government website, “a coalition government exists when two or more political parties (or independent representatives) combine their votes in a legislature or a council, to elect a government, and to support the decisions it takes.”
The DA’s John Steenhuisen used the phrase “doomsday coalition,” in reference to an ANC/EFF/MK alliance, and said that his party is open for negotiations, though it is fundamentally opposed to two key policies of the ANC, namely Black Economic Empowerment and the National Health Insurance bill.
The MK party said that it would be open to talks with the ANC, so long as Ramaphosa is axed from the party, an outcome that ANC secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, said is unlikely. The EFF, which is fourth at 9.52 percent of the vote, said this past April that it would accept an ANC-led coalition government, so long as it gained control of the finance ministry.
Calls for votes recount
Chairperson of the IEC, Mosotho Moepya, said that the country has emerged triumphant despite multiple challenges. He also pointed out that the elections were conducted “with the utmost transparency.”
Earlier, Moepya called on political parties to, “remain confident in the integrity of the results management process.” This statement followed confusion over the weekend regarding discrepancies at “several voting stations.”
On Saturday, Zuma warned against declaring election results, and called for a recount, saying that more time was needed. "If that happens, people will be provoked, we know what we are talking about. I am hoping whoever is responsible is hearing us. Don't start trouble when there is no trouble,” he cautioned, a statement that some commentators have read as a threat to democracy.
With the results being announced, the newly elected National Assembly will need to meet within 14 days to vote for the president.