Commentary
The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its majority in parliament, meaning its coalition partners need to win more than 50% of the vote to form a government.
With almost all votes counted in South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) won just 40.21 percent of the vote in Wednesday's election, far short of a majority.
For the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, the formerly dominant party will need to reach an agreement with other parties to form a coalition government.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) received the second highest number of votes (21.78 percent), followed by MK (14.59 percent) and the EFF (9.51 percent).
The South African Electoral Commission (IEC) will announce the official results on Monday night at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT).
South Africa's lowest voter turnout
A record 27.7 million South Africans registered to vote ahead of the election on May 29. However, only 16.2 million votes were cast on election day, resulting in a voter turnout of just 58.61 percent, the lowest in South Africa's 30-year democratic history.
In fact, voter turnout has been steadily declining in recent years: in 1999, roughly 90% of registered voters turned out to vote, but in the 2019 election, turnout was just 66%.
Results by state
The ANC won more than 50% of the vote in five of South Africa's nine provinces: Limpopo (74%), Eastern Cape (63%), North West (58%), Free State (53%) and Mpumalanga (52%).
The ANC falls short of a majority in the Northern Cape (49 percent) and Gauteng (36 percent) and will need to find coalition partners to form a government.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will continue to govern the Western Cape (53 percent) as it has done since 2009.
In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), MK, led by former President Jacob Zuma, won the highest share of the vote with about 46 percent, beating the ANC, which received about 18 percent.
Of the approximately 39,000 South Africans who voted overseas, more than 75% voted for the DA.
How is a president elected and what happens after?
South Africans do not vote directly for the president.
Instead, they elect members of the National Assembly, who then elect the president by simple majority vote, with the president being determined by at least 201 votes.
Following the announcement of the IEC results, South Africa must go through certain procedures before it can form a government. These include:
- Seat Allocation: Seats in the 400-seat National Assembly are apportioned proportionally based on the election results.
- First Session of the National Assembly: Within 14 days of the election results, the newly elected National Assembly must hold its first meeting, swear in its members and elect a speaker.
- Presidential election: During or shortly after its first meeting, Parliament elects a President of South Africa, who is then responsible for appointing a Cabinet and forming a Government.
- Formation of Government: Once a president is elected, the process of forming a government usually follows, which includes the appointment of ministers.
The entire process is usually completed within two weeks to ensure a smooth transition of power and continuity of governance.
President Ramaphosa's future uncertain
South Africa's current President, Cyril Ramaphosa, 71, has indicated he has no intention of stepping down following the ANC's poor performance in the election.
The former anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader and businessman from Soweto was seeking a second and final term as president.
Some opposition parties, including Zuma's MK party, have ruled out a coalition deal with the ANC unless President Ramaphosa is first removed from office.
Last election results
The ANC has won majorities in all six national elections held since the end of apartheid in 1994, when Nelson Mandela became the country's first black president.
In 1994, the ANC won 62.5% of the vote. In 1999, it won 66.4%. In 2004, it won nearly 70% of the vote, its highest number ever. In 2009, it won nearly 66% of the vote, and in 2014, it won 62%.
In the last election in 2019, the ANC won 57.5% of the vote, its smallest victory margin ever.
The DA has placed second in the last five elections.
Current parliamentary parties
The House of Representatives is currently represented by 400 members from 14 political parties, apportioned proportionally based on the number of votes each party received in the 2019 election.
- Australian National Congress: 230 seats (57.5%)
- D: 84 seats (21 percent)
- EFF: 44 seats (11 percent)
- Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP): 14 seats (3.5%)
The remaining 28 seats are held by 10 other parties.
