The ANC, which has been ruling since 1994, has lost even more in the elections in South Africa than previously anticipated.
According to initial estimates after counting about 15 percent of the votes, the party remains the largest at national level. But while the former liberation movement still achieved 58 percent in 2019, the ANC now has 42 percent. Without an absolute majority, the party of incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to find a coalition partner to continue governing.
The party of former president Jacob Zuma, which was only founded in December, in particular has, according to the National Scientific Council (CSIR) forecasting model benefited. His uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) is estimated at almost 14 percent of the vote. This could give Zuma, who is not allowed to sit in parliament due to a conviction, a key role in the formation of a government coalition.
Technical problems
In KwaZulu-Natal province, where Zuma comes from, his party has done extremely well. At many polling stations where counting has already been completed, MK obtained an absolute majority. In the Western Cape province, around Cape Town, South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, appears to have retained its absolute majority. At a national level, the party has around 22 percent.
South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday to elect members of the national parliament in Cape Town and members of provincial parliaments. The day passed uneventfully. But due to technical problems at polling stations, people sometimes had to wait many hours before they could cast their votes. Voting took place in some cities until late at night. As a result, the counting of votes has also been delayed. A final result is expected on Saturday.
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