In a significant shift for South African politics, President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the recent election results as a victory for democracy, despite the ruling African National Congress (ANC) losing its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid three decades ago. The ANC, once led by Nelson Mandela, secured 159 seats in the 400-seat parliament, a sharp decline from its previous tally of 230 seats.

While the ANC still holds the highest number of seats, this election outcome represents its worst performance since the apartheid era. The reduced support means that the ANC now has to enter into a coalition in order to form the next government. President Ramaphosa acknowledged the voices of the voters, emphasizing the need for political parties to find common ground.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a center-right party, remains the second-largest party in parliament and has expressed its openness to coalition talks. However, former president Jacob Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and came in third, did not attend the results announcement and suggested that he might challenge them.

Zuma has called for an election rerun, questioning the credibility of the electoral commission and demanding an independent investigation into alleged rigging. The uncertainty surrounding his response and the potential reaction of his supporters has raised concerns over potential instability in the country. Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned that any attempts to destabilize the country will not be tolerated.

The election revealed a significant shift in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, where Zuma's MK party made substantial gains at the expense of the ANC. With 44% of the vote compared to the ANC's 19%, MK emerged as the leading party in the province. Local issues such as water shortages played a role in this shift, as communities felt neglected by the ANC's failure to address the acute water crisis.

Overall, the ANC's support has been steadily declining due to widespread discontent over corruption, unemployment, and crime. The party's result of 40% in this election marks a significant drop from its previous share of 58%. Analysts had anticipated an even worse outcome for the ANC, with fears that their support could dip below 45%.

South Africa's political parties now have two weeks to negotiate a coalition deal before the new parliament convenes to select a president. The ANC, long dominant in South African politics, is now faced with the challenge of adapting to a new political landscape, where collaboration and compromise will be key in shaping the country's future.

Despite the ANC's diminished majority, President Ramaphosa remains committed to the strength and endurance of South Africa's democracy, highlighting the importance of respecting the will of the people. With the election behind them, the country looks forward to addressing pressing issues such as corruption, unemployment, and providing basic services to its citizens.