South Africa election outcome: What comes next? | News Update

EXPLAINER

The African National Congress (ANC) has lost parliamentary majority and will need coalition partners to surpass 50 percent votes and form a government.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa has only secured 40.21 percent of the votes in the recent election, falling short of a majority and signaling the need for coalition partners to form a government post-apartheid for the first time.

With the Democratic Alliance (DA) as the main opposition party, the ANC will have to negotiate and form alliances with other parties such as the MK and EFF to surpass the 50 percent mark and gain control. The official results are set to be announced soon.

The voter turnout for this election was the lowest in South Africa’s democratic history, with only 58.61 percent of registered voters participating. The ANC managed to secure over 50 percent of the votes in five provinces, while falling short in others, necessitating coalition partnerships.

As the country navigates the formation of a new government, the future of the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is in doubt, with calls for his resignation from some opposition parties.