South Africa's Main Opposition Leader Sees Opportunity in ANC's Declining Majority

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — On Friday morning, John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), declared that breaking the African National Congress's (ANC) majority is "the way to rescue South Africa." With 60% of the votes counted, the long-time ruling ANC holds just under 42% of the vote.

This marks a significant drop from the 57.5% the ANC secured in the last national election in 2019. Although final results from Wednesday's election have not yet been declared, the ANC needs more than 50% to allow its leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to remain president under South Africa’s parliamentary system.

“They’re going to end up in the low forties,” said Steenhuisen. “And that obviously opens up a whole new universe for politics in South Africa.”

The DA, a centrist party, held more than 20% of the vote when Steenhuisen spoke from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) center. Other major parties include the MK Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by former ANC member Julius Malema.

Steenhuisen emphasized the DA's multicultural voter base, stating, “If I look at our growth amongst Black South Africans, it’s doubled from the last election. If I look to the parties to the left and right of me, they’re able to draw from very limited pools of voters, and they’re virtually monochromatic.”

Steenhuisen expressed openness to working with the ANC, though he noted he would first need to consult with a group of other parties with whom he has a pre-election agreement.

The ANC first gained power in 1994 when the party, led by Nelson Mandela, won the first democratic elections, signaling the end of apartheid rule. However, widespread discontent with the ANC has grown in recent years, with many South Africans frustrated by high unemployment and the rising cost of living.

The electoral commission has indicated that final results are expected by Sunday, though they could be announced sooner.

As the country awaits the final tally, the possibility of the ANC losing its majority could herald a new era in South African politics, potentially leading to coalition governance for the first time since the end of apartheid.