As South Africa geared up for the May 29 elections, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) tried to highlight its achievements over the past 30 years to win over a disillusioned electorate. President Cyril Ramaphosa even narrated a tale of a fictional character, “Tintswalo,” symbolizing the progress made under the ANC’s governance. Despite their efforts, the ANC only secured 40.18% of the votes, losing its majority for the first time since 1994. The election setback was a clear message from voters, expressing dissatisfaction with high levels of crime, corruption, and poor service delivery.
The ANC’s failure to address these issues, coupled with ongoing corruption scandals involving top officials like Deputy President Paul Mashatile, has eroded public trust. Ramaphosa himself faced corruption allegations, further undermining the party’s credibility. The party’s inability to deliver effective services and transparent governance has led to a decline in support among South Africans.
As the ANC grapples with internal challenges and growing demands for socioeconomic change, it faces a decline in electoral support as citizens, like “Tintswalo,” demand more from their government.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.