South Africa’s ruling party lost its majority due to internal decay, not by external defeat.
The polls leading up to South Africa’s 2024 election foretold a grim future for the African National Congress (ANC), but even so, the reality was hard to fathom. On 2 June 2024, the long-ruling ANC officially lost its majority in the National Assembly. This marks the end of an era for a party that once symbolized South Africa’s democratic rebirth after apartheid.
The ANC was a key driver in South Africa’s transition to democracy, crafting new policies and transforming the legislative landscape. Despite its shortcomings—particularly its failure to overhaul the economy and implement land reforms—it steered the country through a period of significant change. The ANC’s vision once aimed to provide shelter, education, and economic opportunities for the previously marginalized population, all while establishing symbols of national unity such as the anthem and flag.
However, the ANC’s downfall did not come at the hands of a rival political force. Instead, the party gradually ceded its influence to the very forces it once sought to eliminate: corruption, internal strife, and parasitic entities that exploited its governance. The disillusionment and frustration of the South African populace played a central role in the erosion of the ANC’s dominance, leading to the party’s eventual electoral collapse.
This shift is not just a political failure, but also a tragedy for the ideals of equality and unity that the ANC once represented. It highlights a deeper malaise within the country, where institutional decay and lost trust have allowed South Africa’s latent demons to resurface. The ANC’s loss of power in the National Assembly is emblematic of the complex, multifaceted challenges facing the country.