Former President Jacob Zuma's new political party, uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK), is on the verge of making significant gains in South Africa's general elections. With over 80 percent of votes counted, the MK Party appears poised to challenge the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in several key provinces.

In the province of KwaZulu Natal, where the ANC has never previously lost since the post-apartheid elections in 1994, the MK Party is comfortably leading, indicating a potential power shift. Nationally, the MK Party stands in third place with approximately 13 percent of the vote, trailing behind the ANC with 41 percent and the Democratic Alliance with 22 percent.

These election results paint a clear picture of the MK Party winning over chunks of the ANC's traditional support in its strongholds, including KwaZulu Natal, the Western Cape, and Gauteng. This trend has solidified over the past two days, raising the possibility that the ANC may need to seek support from opposition parties to stay in power under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Analysts believe these election results signify the "death of ANC dominance," attributing it to a combination of arrogance, denial of failures, and a disillusioned electorate. The ANC, along with other liberation movements across Africa, has been criticized for failing to deliver on their promises.

Factors contributing to ANC's decline in support include deepening joblessness, systemic corruption, government inefficiency, and worsening living conditions. According to the World Bank, 55 percent of the South African population lives in poverty, and the current unemployment rate stands at 33 percent.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, showed marginal gains, while the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters also experienced a drop in numbers. However, neither party was able to fully capitalize on the ANC's loss of support.

Former President Zuma, a stalwart of the anti-apartheid movement, is a popular figure among many South Africans and has relied on populist policies to attract votes. Despite facing corruption allegations and a criminal record for contempt of court, Zuma's scandals did not derail his support, with many perceiving him as a victim.

While the ANC has already initiated informal talks with potential coalition partners, the MK Party has ruled out forming a coalition with the ANC. Other opposition parties have remained tight-lipped, waiting for the final election results to be announced before considering talks with the ANC.

As South Africa awaits the official announcement of the final results by the Electoral Commission, the political terrain is expected to be "noisy and unstable," according to analysts. The full consequences of the ANC's decline in support will only become evident with time.

The ANC's dominance, long-standing since the end of apartheid, is being challenged, setting the stage for a potentially transformative period in South African politics.