The ANC says it is considering forming a government of national unity with other minority parties as it begins post-election negotiations after suffering a dramatic fall in electoral support. The election results were formally announced at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand yesterday evening with the ANC winning just over 40 percent of the vote.
The DA was second with just over 21 percent – while the MK Party won more than 14 percent. The EFF finished in fourth place with just over nine percent. The MK Party came out tops in the province of KwaZulu-Natal – and fierce negotiations over a coalition government are expected. Gauteng’s future also hangs in the balance with talks between parties over a coalition there as well.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed all who had gathered at the results centre – saying that democracy need to be respected. He says the IEC managed to produce a free and fair election and the parties that lost, need to accept the result. Political parties have begun negotiating over forming coalition governments – both nationally and in some provinces.
The ANC failed to win an outright majority in a number of provinces with voters angry about poor service delivery. The governing party has also failed to keep the lights on with frequent loadshedding in the country.
In response to the election results, the opposition DA says it’s looking at its options to form coalition governments at provincial level – and nationally. Party leader John Steenhuisen says they are worried about the MK Party and EFF entering government.
He says the members have already been deployed to discuss options with the ANC. Steenhuisen says if the Economic Freedom Fighters enter government, if will spell a doomsday scenario. The province of KwaZulu-Natal is also being watched carefully as the MK Party has come out tops. The ANC will be looking to form a coalition with the DA or IFP parties to maintain control of the strategic province.
A number of objections have been raised concerning the election results. However, the Electoral Commission says it has attended to most and they won’t change the outcome of the election. The country should know in the next few days who will govern the land. All eyes will be on the rand as an unfavourable outcome will see the local currency being influenced.
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