The African National Congress (ANC) recorded its worst performance in history by securing less than 31% of the votes in the recent local elections. The final results of these elections, published on Sunday, indicate that ANC's close rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has also managed to obtain less than 25% of the votes.
Loss of Majority in Metropolitan Areas
According to the South African Electoral Commission, the ANC has lost its majority in six out of eight metropolitan areas. Given the lack of a definitive winner in several major cities, it is expected that politicians will enter tough negotiations to form local governments.
Read more: The African National Congress Faces Significant Decline in Its Historic Local Elections
Challenges Facing the ANC
Although the ANC remains the most popular party in the country, it is facing increasing negative reactions from voters. Public dissatisfaction over water and electricity shortages, high unemployment, and widespread corruption are among the major issues affecting public sentiment.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the ANC and President of South Africa, has yet to respond to his party's poor performance. However, in his weekly letter, he acknowledged that "urban failures have led to a decline in public trust and confidence in democratic governance."
Fikile Mbalula, the Secretary-General of the ANC, told reporters on Saturday that the party needs to work on regaining public trust. He added, "We cannot ask people to trust us simply because of our history."
These results are considered one of the worst in ANC history, and political analysts predict that this could negatively impact the party's ability to exert authority at local and national levels. Additionally, the recent results could serve as a warning for the 2029 general elections.
The African National Congress, which helped end apartheid under Nelson Mandela's leadership, came to power in 1994 and has governed with an absolute majority for most of its history. However, in the past decade, the party has consistently performed poorly in various elections.
The DA, a center-right and pro-business party, will maintain control of Cape Town by securing an absolute majority and is expected to form coalitions that do not include the ANC. Jordan Hill-Lewis, the leader of the DA, has announced that they are negotiating with other parties to form local governments.
Read more: Arrest and Release of Wisconsin Police Captain After Dramatic Experience · New Zealand Elections Suspended After Counting Half of the Voter Votes
