After months of hard work and endless election preparation challenges, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has officially declared the 2024 national elections “free and fair” as it announces the official results.
Despite several disputes over election process discrepancies and calls to delay the announcement to Monday, the IEC stood firm and released the final tally Sunday night.
After 30 years as a governing party and unwavering support since the dawn of democracy, the ANC has lost its majority stake after receiving only 159 majority seats in the National Assembly, with the second spot going to the DA with 87 seats, and MK Party coming third with 58 seats followed by EFF with 39 seats.
Although the Cyril Ramaphosa led party is still the heavyweight of the political race with the biggest share of the vote at 40.18% – just over 16% down from 57.5% in 2019 – the party will have to humble itself and negotiate in the upcoming coalition talks.
Meanwhile, the country’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) received 21.8% of the vote, followed by the former President Jacob Zuma-led MK Party at 14.59%.
Addressing audiences right after the election results announcement at Gallagher Estates, Midrand, Ramaphosa said: “The people of South Africa have spoken whether we like it or not. We have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their choices and their wishes.”
The ruling party’s governance over the last 10 years has been less than impressive with voters affected by record unemployment rate since the dawn democracy, inequality and rolling blackouts, concerns which Ramaphosa indirectly admitted to and directed part of his Sunday address to, stating: “What this election has made plain is that the people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs. This is a time for all of us to put South Africa first.”
