For the first time in South Africa’s democracy, no party has outright won the national election, forcing a coalition government to create the country’s seventh administration.
With 52 parties contesting the national ballot and at only around 58% voter turnout, the leading party, the African National Congress (ANC) remains the most popular party enjoying 40,18% of the national vote. In second, the official opposition the Democratic Alliance (DA) held firm at 21,81% followed by the new party uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) dethroning the Economic Freedom Fighters as the third largest party in the country. MK gained 14,58% of the votes, with the EFF having 9,52% support.
With a win only concluded at 50% + 1, no party has claimed the outright majority which will inevitably result in a coalition government.
READ: Elections: 60% voter turnout in the Western Cape as locals choose leadership for next five years
While the country has seen coalitions work fruitfully in other spheres of government at local and provincial levels, it has never had a national coalition.
At this stage, which parties will join together to form this coalition is unknown.
The ANC had been on a steady decline in support since 2009, with only 57,5% of the national vote, while the DA has had around 20% over the last few years nationally.
The ANC has retained power in five provinces and the DA retaining the Western Cape, with MK falling short in KwaZulu-Natal.
A coalition must be made in three provincial legislatures, including Gauteng and Northern Cape.
Next steps
According to a SA government dialogue on coalitions last year, “A coalition government exists when two or more political parties (or independent representatives) combine their votes in a legislature or a council, to elect a government, and to support the decisions it takes. This becomes necessary when no single party has a majority of the seats in the legislature or council.”
What this means is a combined effort between parties in parliament, often resulting in specific deals around leadership.
Leaders react to election
DA leader John Steenhuisen thanked the millions of national supporters who assisted in growing the party outcomes.
he says.
Fikile Mbalula, ANC secretary general, says: “While the ANC has won the most votes in this election, the results show a significant decline in the ANC support from previous elections. While there are several factors that have contributed to the decline in support, the results send a clear message to the ANC.”
Leadership for the country will be elected at the National Parliament’s first sitting.
