
In South Africa the ruling African National Congress party (ANC) is heading for a historic low but with enough votes to retain power. At the time half of the votes were counted, the ANC was on 56%, enough for a majority but a sign, President Cyril Ramaphosa failed to enhance the vote share and decline in the party’s popularity 25 years ago after the country’s first free elections after turning into a democracy. Political watchers say if the decline in vote share continues it would be a huge blow to Ramaphosa, who took the reins last year after his predecessor, Jacob Zuma lost the post after a series of corruption scandals. The party’s share of the vote has maintained above 60% in national elections since the end of the apartheid regime in 1994. One has to wait for the final result before making final comments on the popularity of the present incumbent.