By Debra Rono
South Africans cast their votes in the general elections on May 29th, with a close competition to determine the next president of the country in 2024.
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Preliminary results indicate that the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of apartheid, is facing a significant decline, falling below the 50% threshold for a parliamentary majority.
Having governed for three decades, the ANC first came to power when Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa’s inaugural president.
Should the ANC fail to secure over 50% of the parliamentary seats, it will need to form a coalition with one or more parties to reach the required majority.
The latest results, released on the second day of counting, show the ANC in the lead with just over 40%, of the votes, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The ANC party’s presidential candidate is the current president Cyril Ramaphosa, the DA party is represented by John Steenhuisen, the UM party is represented by the former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma while the EFF party has Julius Malema.
Since the end of apartheid, the ANC has consistently held a parliamentary majority, with percentages of 62.5% in 1994, 66.4% in 1999, nearly 70% in 2004, 66% in 2009, 62% in 2014, and 57.5% in 2019.
In South Africa, voters do not directly cast their vote for the president. Instead, they vote for members of parliament who then vote for the president by a simple majority of 210 or more.
There was great anticipation this year that Julius Malema, a former ANC lawmaker and the presidential candidate for the EFF party, would become the president of South Africa. Malema has been a prominent figure in the fight for the freedom of black people in the country.
In his manifesto, Malema made promises to create jobs for the millions of unemployed citizens, fast-track the slow-paced redistribution of land, and address the country’s electricity crisis.
His slogan, “Jobs and land now! Stop load-shedding,” was announced during his manifesto launch on February 29th of this year.
Malema has been very vocal and controversial in his radical idea of transforming South Africa, he has not been afraid of poking jabs at the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his most recent post on X, Malema appears to have conceded, the post shows gratitude towards his supporters for their unwavering support while reassuring them that his pursuit for the liberation of black individuals persists.
“We extend our deepest appreciation to you the people of South Africa, for your continued support of the EFF…our resolute commitment to fighting for economic freedom for black people remains unshaken…thank you very much. Siyabonga Mzansi. Releboga kudu kudu. Aluta Continua! Hasta la victoria siempre,” read the post in part.