(3 Minutes Read)
The latest information coming from South Africa indicates that there is every possibility of ANC not crossing 50% vote share, which for the first time since 1994, will force the largest party to ally with like-minded parties to form a government.
The latest information coming from South Africa indicates that there is every possibility of ANC not crossing 50% vote share, which for the first time since 1994, will force the largest party to ally with like-minded parties to form a government. Over 62% of the votes have been counted, with ANC capturing only 42%. Many political analysts say that the chances of ANC crossing the cliffhanger seem to be difficult, if not impossible. Arithmetically, that may be possible. But present South Africa is not the same as it went to the polls last time when the ruling party managed to muster over 57% of the vote share. It may end up with over 45% vote share but may fall short of the 50% mark to rule the country alone in the next term.
That uncertainty has kept the speculation abound: what will be the format of the new coalition? Will there be a possible coalition between the ANC and MK party of Jacob Zuma? What can come the way is the rivalry between Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the ANC party, and Jacob Zuma, who believes that the former is the main architect of his downfall and prolonged incineration. The question now boils down to whether the ANC be prepared for a change of leadership dropping Ramaphosa and opting for someone, who will be more acceptable to the MK party, which means who can overlook the cases filed against Zuma and ensure his party a good say in the routine administration. The question of whether such an arrangement is possible as the ANC has already elected Ramaphosa as the leader and the president if the party comes to power.
That is only one option. The other option can be the parties that can come first and second -ANC and the Democratic Alliance forming a government. The ANC could try to offer the DA and IFP a deal that would see the three parties governing jointly at the national level, and in KwaZulu-Natal.
The DA and IFP may keep that option open to keep the EFF and MK out of government. Moreover, DA, considered to be a party of whites, has regained some strength in this election, if one goes by the number of votes polled in its favor. Some black people are also open to the idea of giving that party a chance believing that it can bring in a better administration. Also, they feel that such a dispensation can bring the country closer to the Western countries and the US, resulting in more investment and job creation.
The ANC’s other option is to try to form a coalition with the EFF in the national government, as well as in Gauteng, where the ANC is also set to lose its outright majority. ANC leaders in Gauteng, backed by Mashatile, are said to prefer a coalition with the EFF.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/anc-to-lose-majority-in-south-africa/
https://trendsnafrica.com/after-hectic-election-south-africans-await-results/
As things are unfolding, several hardcore supporters of ANC are waiting for an impossible thing to happen; that is the party to cross the 50% benchmark and form a government of its own. Till that impossible target happens, speculation mill overwork with various permutation combinations of the coalition government.
