In a historic and hotly contested election, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has officially declared the results, marking the dawn of South Africa’s seventh administration. The announcement took place during a ceremony at the national Results Operations Centre on Sunday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance.
For the first time, South Africans voted using three ballots due to the inclusion of independent candidates. The ballots included the National Ballot, National Regional Ballot, and the Provincial Legislature Ballot. A notable 16 million citizens participated, resulting in a voter turnout of 58.61%.
The major parties securing seats in the 400-member National Assembly are:
– African National Congress (ANC): 159 seats
– Democratic Alliance (DA): 87 seats
– uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party): 58 seats
– Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF): 39 seats
– Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP): 17 seats
– Patriotic Alliance (PA): 9 seats
– Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus): 6 seats
– ActionSA: 6 seats
– African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP): 3 seats
– United Democratic Movement (UDM): 3 seats
– African Transformation Movement (ATM): 2 seats
– Al Jama-ah: 2 seats
– Build One South Africa (BOSA): 2 seats
– National Coloured Congress (NCC): 2 seats
– Rise Mzansi: 2 seats
– GOOD Party: 1 seat
– Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC): 1 seat
– United Africans Transformation (UTM): 1 seat
In the regional results for the National Assembly, the ANC led in Gauteng with 34.62% of the vote, securing 17 seats. Provincially, the ANC will also lead the Gauteng legislature with 28 seats won.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya affirmed the integrity of the election, declaring it “free and fair” in line with section 57(3) of the Electoral Act 1998.
The lists of elected public representatives were presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa during the ceremony. On Thursday, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will officially receive the lists of designated Members of Parliament from the IEC in preparation for the first sitting of the National Assembly, over which he will preside.
By Sibongile Sokela
