ANC wins, but loses votes

The ANC won South Africa’s fifth democratic election, extending Jacob Zuma’s presidency by a second term.

The final results for the 2014 general elections were announced in Pretoria on 10 May.

The ANC received 249 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly, while the official opposition, the DA, received 89 seats.

The ANC fell just short of a two thirds majority securing 62,15 percent of the 18 402 497 votes cast nationally.

A total of 13 parties won seats in the National Assembly, IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula announced. “A record of 29 parties contested these elections,” she said.

“Out of these, 13 have received sufficient votes to have representation in the National Assembly.”

Newcomers, the Economic Freedom Fighters, were third on the results table with 6,35 percent of votes and received 25 seats.

The Inkatha Freedom Party received 10 seats and its breakaway party the National Freedom Party received six.

The United Democratic Movement and the Freedom Front Plus both received four seats, while the Congress of the People, African Independent Congress and the African Christian Democratic Party secured three seats each.

Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang SA clinched two seats, while the African People’s Convention and the Pan Africanist Congress received one seat each.

Tlakula said there was a 73,48 percent voter turnout on election day. “On Wednesday, 18 million South Africans stood together as a nation as they did in 2009, 2004, 1999 and most famously, in 1994,” she said.

Just 251 960 ballots equating to 1,35 percent of votes were spoilt ballots.

Speaking at the announcement, President Jacob Zuma said, “We dedicate our victory to Madiba’s memory and pledge to continue taking forward his legacy, and that of his peers and forebears, working with all our people.”

He also thanked voters for returning the ANC to power saying, “We are delighted and humbled that they have yet again chosen the African National Congress.”

Zuma said the election results confirmed that the ruling party was deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of South Africans.

The ANC won the 1999 and 2004 general elections with 68,2 and 68,7 percent of votes respectively, but in 2009 its majority voted dropped to 64,8 percent.

Meanwhile, Public Enterprises Minister and head of the ANC’s election campaign, Malusi Gigaba said the ruling party could not satisfy everyone and would not be ungrateful winners in this year’s elections.

“The ANC can’t win a whopping 62 percent and then complain about the other 38 percent,” he told reporters at party headquarters Luthuli House in Johannesburg.

“We are very grateful winners. We are humbled. We are not complaining at all. We will not seek to try and satisfy everyone.”