South Africa ruling African National Congress, ANC, has won re-election on Friday with an absolute majority in parliament, results showed, but with diminished support, complicating economic revival and anti-corruption efforts, state media, Sowetan Lives reports.
Report has it that the results, published by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), are the party';s worst national showing since Nelson Mandela led it to victory in 1994.
The ANC held a comfortable lead with 57.49 percent after 99 percent of voting districts were officially tallied. That means they will be mathematically assured more than 50 percent of votes cast in the final official tally, due to be announced Saturday.
Seats in parliament are allocated based on vote share and the party with the most representatives selects the president, who will be sworn in on May 25.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, 66, took over last year when the ANC forced then-president Jacob Zuma to resign after nine years dominated by corruption allegations and economic decline.
Results released by the IEC showed the ANC';s closest rival, the main opposition DA, trailing with a distant 20.8 percent of the vote.
The EFF was in third place with 10.75 percent - up four percentage points on 2014.
“The ANC are being given a chance,” said political analyst Lumkile Mondi.
According to him, “This is an opportunity for them to reincarnate themselves.”
“The ANC is never going to perform any better, it';s a dying party, it continues shedding votes - because it does not have economic management capability.”
Ramaphosa has so far faced resistance to his reform agenda, especially from Zuma';s allies who still occupy several high-ranking positions in the party and government.
After casting his ballot on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the election was “heralding a new dawn... a period of renewal, a period of hope.”
Report further stated that the ANC';s reputation was badly sullied under Zuma. Its support has fallen in every election since 2004 with the party taking 54 percent in 2016 municipal elections, compared with 62 percent in 2014';s national vote.
The just concluded poll had Forty-eight registered parties that contested.