South Africa Braces for Historic Elections: ANC’s Majority at Risk

South Africa is set to hold its pivotal national elections on May 29th, with 27 million registered voters. Polls predict that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) could lose its majority in Parliament for the first time since the fall of apartheid 30 years ago. The ANC has always won a single national election, but several polls project that the party once led by Nelson Mandela will slip below 50% of the vote. A survey conducted by SABI Strategy shows that the southern African nation will almost certainly have a coalition government after this election, as the ANC has slid further to 39% of the vote.

Over half of the respondents (53%) blame the ANC government for the issues the country faces, followed by 11% who blame apartheid. The continent’s most developed economy grapples with issues such as record unemployment, an electricity crisis, and widespread voter mistrust following corruption allegations. Opposition parties, including John Steenhuisen’s and the newly founded MK Party, are expected to win big, with the MK Party overtaking the EFF with 13% of the vote.

South Africa has never had a coalition at national level due to the ANC’s dominance. If the ANC loses its majority, the party would need to enter into a coalition to remain in government and keep President Ramaphosa as president for a second and final five-year term.