Elections 2024: MK kingmaker; ANC biggest loser

After 30 years in power, the ANC has lost its majority vote in South Africa. The newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) has emerged as kingmakers in what promises to be a tumultuous time for national politics.

With 99.89% of votes captured, the ANC received 40.19% of the national vote, losing a massive 17% of their support base since 2019, when they won with an overwhelming majority of 57.7%.

The five-month-old MK exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations, claiming 14.59% of the national votes and winning with an overwhelming 45.93% in KZN. When the EFF contested their first elections in 2014, they only managed to secure 6% of the national vote.

While former president Jacob Zuma was the face of the party and his image was used on all marketing material, the Constitutional Court ruled on May 20 that he may not represent the MK in the elections due to a 2021 contempt of court conviction.

Also Read: [Watch] Chaos as Zuma enters election results centre

During a media briefing, Zuma explained that they were not satisfied.

“We are complaining, many things have gone wrong. Allow us to deal with the institution until we are happy. There is no rush. Nobody is going to die if they do not announce the results tomorrow [June 2].

“We have information to give, that shows discrepancies… It is a serious matter.”

 

EFF happy with results

The EFF concluded the elections with 9.51%. In 2019, the party secured 10.8%, which means that they have lost just over 1% of their voter base.

EFF leader Julius Malema addressed the media at the results centre this afternoon. He said that with the end of the ANC’s majority rule for the past 30 years, the country enters an era of true democracy. He said the party is happy with their results, despite a slight decline.

Also Read: EFF will focus on land expropriation and Reserve Bank nationalisation

The DA remains the official opposition, with 21.8%. Yesterday, party leader John Steenhuisen told Caxton Local Media that they were satisfied with the party’s performance. They were surprised with their Free State results, where the party made inroads with black voters. In 2019, the DA received 20.7% of the vote, thus gaining 1%.

Also Read: DA leader answers the ‘Now what?’ question

Voter turnout in the most recent elections, at 58.61%, was not as good as projected and lagged compared with the 66% obtained in 2019.

Out-of-country results

The DA took the overwhelming lead by securing 75.23% of out-of-country votes. The EFF and ANC obtained 4.4% and 3.92% respectively. More than 58 800 voters registered to vote, with 39 116 votes cast. This amounted to a 67% voter turnout.

Final results not declared. What now?

In a media briefing tonight, the IEC said they had received 579 objections. Of these, 56 met the criteria of valid objections while the rest were complaints.

The IEC has ordered 24 recounts: 20 in Gauteng, three in the North West and one in Limpopo.

The ANC’s massive decline in voter support will lead to several top ministers losing their positions, with the party losing an estimated 70 seats in Parliament.

South Africans voted out the liberation movement – analyst

Political analyst Prof Piet Croucamp said after 30 years, South Africans voted out the liberation movement.

“This is what we call ‘the politics of uncertainty’. If we are uncertain, imagine how uncertain the president is when he goes to sleep tonight, not knowing if he is going to be president in two weeks after the election results have been declared.”

Read Croucamp’s analysis here: Opinion: Ramaphosa will go to bed an uncertain man

Parliament is about the people not the perks – Gayton McKenzie

Leader of the Patriotic Alliance Gayton McKenzie said his party’s mission is to have illegal foreigners removed from the country. He said for most elected members, going to Parliament is a ‘job’ but for him, it is about the people of South Africa. McKenzie said he doesn’t want any perks, neither a salary nor a medical aid, as he has his own money. He has not decided on forming coalitions.

#Hope4SA will continue with community work

Smaller parties like #Hope4SA, which did not garner enough votes to have a seat in Parliament, remain positive. Prof Gerrie Bester, spokesperson of the party, said they are satisfied with their results as they are a very young party and placed in the top 20 of the 52 parties that participated in the elections.

The party thought their support was stronger in the Northern Cape, while in Gauteng voter confidence was greater than they expected. Bester said that despite not having a seat in Parliament, the party will continue their work in the community.

IFP not desperate for coalition

Speaking to the media from the results operation centre, IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa said the MK did not affect them because the party grew their voter base. He said the MK did a good thing by ending the ANC’s rule in KZN.

Hlabisa said the IFP is not desperate to go into a coalition, but that it is clear the South African voters favour a coalition government because there was no outright winner in the elections.

Reaction on social media

Various party leaders have taken to social media in reaction to the results.

Early this morning, McKenzie posted on X: “President Zuma & MK will be the biggest beneficiary of an ANC/DA coalition. He already has a plan for such an eventuality; he told ANC councillors who wanted to join MK to stay put until he calls them. The ANC’s death is being planned by business with full permission of half of ANC.”

President Zuma & MK will be the biggest beneficiary of a ANC/DA coalition.He already has a plan for such an eventuality, he told ANC councillors who wanted to join MK to stay put until he calls them. The ANCs death is being planned by business with full permission of half of ANC.

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) June 1, 2024

The EFF head of presidency, Commissar Vuyani Pambo posted a snippet of his address to the media at the national results centre and stated: “We are not threatened by the MK; the MK is a new party and it’s a new child in the block; we are not threatened by anyone, not even by the ANC.”

The EFF Head of Presidency, Commissar @vuyanipambo speaking to members of the media at the Results Operation Centre, ROC.

-We are not threatened by the MK, the MK is a new party and it’s a new child in the block, we are not threatened by anyone, not even by the ANC. pic.twitter.com/b31rdQLm02

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 1, 2024

It is expected that the IEC will officially declare voting figures tomorrow.