The ruling African National Congress party leads with little under 60% of the vote. It lacks a majority. The Democratic Alliance is second and former President Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) third. If the ANC does not get more than 50%, it must create a coalition government. No official findings are expected before Sunday.
Could the MK influence South African politics?
Former President Zuma is the election’s wild card. Due to a 2021 conviction, a last-minute court judgment disqualified him from running for parliament for the MK party.
He’s trying out kingmaking with a stand-in.
Zuma is determined to annoy the ANC, with whom he has recently split. Zuma wants to split the ANC’s votes in KwaZulu-Natal with the MK, if not nationally.
MK is third with 11.3 percent after 58 percent of the votes.
Final Western Cape votes expected Friday.
The Western Cape Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) intends to finish capturing voting results today, with ballot counting already complete, local media report.
Despite nationwide IEC system problems on Friday morning, the statement was made.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has ruled the Western Cape since 2009, and the latest elections are unlikely to change this.
Leader of DA denies coalition negotiations
DA leader John Steenhuisen denies coalition negotiations following this week’s election.
With roughly 56 percent of results announced, the DA is second with 24%. Currently leading with slightly under 42%, the ruling ANC will need additional parties to create a government.
Zuma wants-what?
In an interview with Al Jazeera, political expert William Gumede speculated on what Zuma, who now leads the MK, may seek from this election.
I suppose Zuma wants two things. No government involvement interests him.
He wants a presidential pardon, thus he will seek a national coalition with a governing party.
He has been fighting corruption and racketeering charges for years.
“He has exhausted legal options, faces corruption charges, and is likely to go to jail in his old age. He wants to stop that. A presidential pardon is the only way to stop that. All his actions are predicated on that. He hopes to acquire high MK party numbers to join a national coalition and be pardoned by the president.
ANC may ‘accommodate’ left-wing coalition partners.
Political expert Sandile Swana predicts 42% ANC victory.
“So they lost 15 percentage points of the votes compared with the last election – down from 57 percent to give and take 42 percent,” he told Al Jazeera from Krugersdorp. “Hence losing majority in South Africa and countrywide control.”
Swana believes the ANC must include left-wing parties like the MK Party, Economic Freedom Fighters, and African Transformation Movement in a coalition.
“Without that, protests will continue. Business leaders in South Africa want the ANC to create a coalition with smaller parties and exclude other major parties. Thus, the ANC accommodating the left is most likely.”
What occurred Thursday?
The first day of vote counting in South Africa began on Thursday after the country voted in a vital election for the ruling ANC.
The polls closed at 9pm (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, but huge lines and delays kept many polling locations open until 3am (01:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Vote counting began shortly after polls closed and ran all day.
The country’s Electoral Commission reported results for 22.6% of voting districts by 4pm (14:00 GMT).
Before 11pm (21:00 GMT), over 40% of the vote was counted. Counting continues Friday.
Zuma’s MK party did well in KwaZulu-Natal, and the DA led in the Western Cape.
