South Africans were on edge Thursday as votes trickled in from a tight national election, with early returns showing poor results for the African National Congress, the party that has governed the country for three decades.
— for the first time — would need to form a coalition with one or more rival parties in order to stay in power.
In South Africa’s parliamentary system, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the African National Congress, would need the support of members of the opposition in order to serve a second term.
would significantly change South African politics, and also its policies, shifting the country away from a government dominated by a single party to one held together by fragile coalitions.
in small municipalities, but has been fraught in large cities like Johannesburg, where it has led to political infighting.
Persons:
—, Cyril Ramaphosa
Organizations:
African National Congress
Locations:
Africa’s, Johannesburg