In a landmark election, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has lost its longstanding majority, marking a significant shift for the party once spearheaded by Nelson Mandela. The ANC has been the dominant force in South African politics since the nation’s first post-apartheid elections three decades ago.
The ANC anticipated a disappointing result, as polls had suggested a challenging outcome before Wednesday’s election. However, the final results were more severe than expected, with the ANC securing just 40 percent of the vote, a sharp decline from 57% in 2019.
