Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ South Africans voted Wednesday at schools, community centers, and in large white tents set up in open fields, marking an election seen as their country’s most pivotal since the end of apartheid 30 years ago. This election could steer the young democracy into uncharted waters.
At stake is the African National Congress (ANC)’s three-decade dominance, a party that led South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to democracy in 1994. Today, it faces discontent from a new generation in a nation of 62 million people, half of whom are estimated to live in poverty.
After casting his vote, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the ANC would secure a “firm majority.” In contrast, John Steenhuisen, the main opposition leader, stated, “For the first time in 30 years, there is now a path to victory for the opposition.”
Polling stations across South Africa’s nine provinces saw high voter turnout. Over 23,000 stations closed after 14 hours of voting, with results expected by Sunday, according to the independent electoral commission.
South Africa, Africa’s most advanced economy, grapples with severe socioeconomic challenges. It has one of the world’s highest unemployment rates at 32% and significant inequality, predominantly affecting the Black majority. This persistent hardship threatens to unseat the ANC, which once promised an end to apartheid under the banner of a better life for all.
“Our main issue here in our community is the lack of jobs,” said Samuel Ratshalingwa, who was among the first to vote in Soweto, Johannesburg, where Ramaphosa also cast his ballot. “We have to use the vote to make our voices heard about this problem.”
After winning six consecutive national elections, the ANC’s support has dipped below 50% in recent polls, an unprecedented decline. The ANC garnered 57.5% in the 2019 election, its worst performance to date, down from nearly 70% in 2004. This drop has been attributed to widespread poverty, corruption scandals, high crime rates, and failures in basic services, with some voting stations even affected by power outages.
Ramaphosa, the ANC leader, has vowed to “do better.” In Soweto, the birthplace of his political journey, he reassured voters: “I have no doubt that the people will once again invest confidence in the ANC to continue leading this country.”
Any shift in the ANC’s power could be monumental. Should the ANC lose its majority, it might face forming a coalition to stay in power, a first in its history.
South Africans vote for parties, not directly for their president. Parliamentary seats are allocated based on the vote share, and lawmakers elect the president. Nearly 28 million people registered to vote, with high turnout expected. Long queues persisted into the night, with voters allowed to cast their ballots if they were in line before the 9 p.m. closing time.
The opposition, though fierce, remains fragmented. The centrist Democratic Alliance and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters are not expected to significantly increase their vote share. Disgruntled voters are dispersing their support across more than 50 contesting parties, including one led by former President Jacob Zuma, now estranged from the ANC.
Steenhuisen acknowledged his party might not gain a majority but emphasized a pre-election agreement with smaller parties to challenge the ANC. “I don’t think we’re going to solve South Africa’s problems by keeping the same people around the same table making the same bad decisions,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the ANC remains confident, bolstered by its grassroots campaigning. “I woke up at 4 a.m. to vote for the ANC,” said 68-year-old Velaphi Banda. “I have always known who I will vote for.”
Ramaphosa highlighted the progress made since apartheid, when Black South Africans were barred from voting and lived under oppressive conditions. This election is only the seventh national vote in which all races can participate, a significant milestone for the nation.
Memories of apartheid still shape South Africa, but a new generation is voicing its needs. “There are just no opportunities for young people in this area,” said 27-year-old Innocentia Zitha.
South Africa’s diverse population, with 12 official languages, voted from Johannesburg’s affluent areas to rural settlements. In KwaZulu-Natal, 72-year-old Thembekile Ngema walked 20 minutes to her polling station.
Despite South Africa’s history of peaceful elections, nearly 3,000 soldiers were deployed to ensure order. This election, set against a backdrop of high stakes and deep-rooted challenges, may redefine South Africa’s political landscape.
