After casting his vote, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confidently asserted that his African National Congress (ANC) would secure a majority and continue to govern.
The 71-year-old leader, born in Soweto, joined fellow citizens at a polling station in his hometown, shaking hands with smiling officials before casting his ballot.
“I have no doubt whatsoever in my heart of hearts that the people will once again invest confidence in the African National Congress to continue to lead this country.”
Cyril Ramaphosa
Despite Ramaphosa’s optimism, Africa’s most advanced economy grapples with profound socioeconomic challenges.
The nation faces an unemployment rate of 32%, with poverty and joblessness disproportionately impacting the Black majority.
These enduring inequalities pose a significant threat to the ANC, the party that once vowed to dismantle apartheid and foster a better life for all South Africans.
Samuel Ratshalingwa, a Soweto resident, highlighted the urgency of these issues as he stood near the front of the voting queue at the same school where Ramaphosa cast his vote.
“Our main issue here in our community is the lack of jobs,” Ratshalingwa said. “We have to use the vote to make our voices heard about this problem,” he added, emphasizing the importance of the electoral process.
The ANC, which has won six successive national elections, now faces an unprecedented challenge.
Recent polls suggest the party’s support has dipped below 50%, raising the possibility that it might lose its parliamentary majority for the first time. However, it is still expected to secure the most seats.
In the last national election in 2019, the ANC garnered 57.5% of the vote, its poorest showing to date, a significant drop from the nearly 70% it achieved two decades ago.
A shift in the ANC’s dominance could be monumental for South Africa. If the party loses its majority, it would likely need to form a coalition to stay in government and secure Ramaphosa a second term.
The prospect of coalition governance would mark a first in the nation’s history.
South Africans vote for parties rather than directly for their president. The parties then receive parliamentary seats proportional to their share of the vote, and those lawmakers elect the president. Since 1994, the ANC has always held a majority in Parliament.
The election is being held in a single day across South Africa’s nine provinces, with nearly 28 million people registered to vote at over 23,000 polling stations. Final results are expected by Sunday, June 2.
ANC Faces Fierce Opposition
Opposition to the ANC in this election is fierce but fragmented. The two largest opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are not expected to increase their vote share enough to overtake the ANC.
The DA has entered into an agreement with smaller parties to combine their vote in an effort to unseat the ANC, but such a scenario remains unlikely.
Despite the challenges, the ANC remains confident of retaining its majority. Analysts have not ruled out this possibility, citing the party’s extensive experience in governance and its robust grassroots campaign machinery.
The ANC continues to enjoy substantial support, particularly among older voters and those in rural areas.
“I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning, took a bath, and made my way,” said 68-year-old Velaphi Banda, a lifelong ANC supporter. “I was never undecided about which party I would vote for. I have always known.”
Ramaphosa has consistently highlighted the progress South Africa has made since the end of apartheid.
He reminds voters that under apartheid, Black South Africans were disenfranchised, restricted in their movements, confined to specific areas, and oppressed in myriad ways.
As the nation heads to the polls, the future of the ANC and its ability to address the country’s pressing issues hang in the balance.
