South Africans Give Nelson Mandela’s ANC a Reality Check: What Next?

South Africa ANC Electoral Setback: South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has acknowledged that the party needs an immediate introspection or it will lose the ounce of support from the public. The recently-held local government elections in the nation has revealed that its association with former President Nelson Mandela and aparthied will no longer be able to compensate for lack of jobs and public services. 

The party secured less than 31% of the vote in the recent polls, which the party leaders described as "catastrophic". ANC dominated South African politics for three decades after the end of apartheid in 1994, but high unemployment, poor public services, failing local administrations and corruption scandals weakened public confidence in the party. Voters believe that the impact is not superficial or confined to national politics, but penetrates everyday life, from unreliable electricity and water supplies to inadequate housing and a lack of employment opportunities. 

The new political scenario in the nation begs one question: Can the ANC regain public trust, or it is a new arc in the South Africa politics where no single party can expect long-standing voter loyalty.

Voters Grow Increasingly Frustrated with Poor Governance

Tasnim Essop, a researcher at the Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, says the election result should prompt serious introspection within the ANC. The party needs to examine its record on governance, leadership and accountability, particularly at the local level, where citizens directly experience the consequences of poor administration.

"You're talking about issues like water, electricity, housing, public services at the basic municipal level. And those kinds of things have been key issues. And ... research has shown that unemployment is also a big part of what drives people to vote in certain ways," she told DW.

Essop says the decline in support is not the result of a sudden political shift. Instead, it reflects years of declining public confidence in a party that has struggled to meet voters' expectations. Many expressed frustration over the continued failure to provide basic public services. Mokhiri Phooko, a resident of Cape Town, told Reuters that people were increasingly losing hope after years of unfulfilled promises. "You promised us jobs, why [are] you not keeping up the end of your bargain right," she said, pointing to the sharp rise in unemployment.

For the ANC, this presents a challenge that goes beyond electoral arithmetic. Its historic association with the struggle against apartheid can no longer compensate for dissatisfaction with its performance in government. Voters are increasingly judging the party on what it delivers rather than what it represents in South Africa's history.

ANC Faces a New Political Reality 

The ANC has acknowledged that it needs to respond to the electoral setback. In a statement, the party said its National Executive Committee would hold a special meeting to address its "serious political responsibility to listen to the people, confront its shortcomings and provide leadership". However, the party faces an immediate political challenge alongside the longer-term task of rebuilding its support: negotiating coalitions to govern municipalities where it no longer commands a majority.

This is part of a broader transformation in South African politics. Support is increasingly divided among several political parties, making coalition governments a more important feature of the country's political system. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has strengthened its position in several major urban centres, while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, launched by former president Jacob Zuma in late 2023, has made significant gains in KwaZulu-Natal.

Smaller civic organisations and community-based movements have also performed well in some local contests, highlighting how voters are looking beyond the country's established political parties.

The ANC's weakened position means it may have to negotiate with political rivals, some of whom have built their support by criticising its record in government. Such arrangements could make municipal administration more complicated, particularly where coalition partners have different priorities and political interests.

Is South Africa Moving Beyond Liberation-Era Loyalties?

The election also raises questions about the changing relationship between South African voters and the country's liberation-era political identity. For decades, the ANC benefited from its central role in the struggle against apartheid. Its association with Nelson Mandela and the transition to democracy gave it a level of political legitimacy that few opposition parties could match.

But that historical connection appears to be losing its influence among sections of the electorate, particularly younger voters who have grown up in democratic South Africa and are more concerned with employment, public services and economic opportunities. Essop describes the changing voting pattern as an increase in "vote fluidity", with people becoming more willing to shift their support between political parties instead of remaining loyal to one organisation.

However, she cautions against interpreting this as the end of liberation politics. "I would be cautious to say that liberation politics are dead and gone," she said, noting that several political parties continue to draw legitimacy and support from South Africa's liberation history, even if they no longer operate under the ANC banner.

The distinction is important. Voters may not necessarily be rejecting the principles or history of the liberation struggle. Rather, they appear increasingly unwilling to let that history determine their political choices indefinitely. This shift could make future elections more competitive, with parties having to demonstrate their ability to govern effectively rather than rely primarily on historical loyalties.

A Test of Leadership for Cyril Ramaphosa

The result also places pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose leadership faces renewed scrutiny as the ANC struggles to retain its political influence. Rebuilding public confidence will require more than internal reviews and promises of reform. The party will need to demonstrate visible improvements in municipal administration, infrastructure, employment opportunities and the delivery of basic services.

Ramaphosa has acknowledged the need for elected representatives to be accountable to the public. In a statement, he said the results should serve as a challenge to all political parties to work together and improve their performance. "Those who have been elected to councils now need to prove themselves worthy of the trust placed in them by the South African people," he said.

For the ANC, the immediate challenge is to manage coalition politics while addressing the governance failures that have contributed to its declining support. These two tasks are closely connected: its ability to govern effectively in coalition arrangements could influence whether voters are willing to give it another chance.

The party remains South Africa's largest political force, but its electoral decline signals the end of an era in which its dominance was largely taken for granted. The more significant question is what replaces that dominance. A more competitive political system could give voters greater choice and make parties more accountable. But fragmented electoral support also brings the risk of unstable coalitions and inconsistent local governance.

Ultimately, the ANC's future will depend less on its liberation-era credentials and more on whether it can address the everyday concerns of South Africans. For a party that once represented the country's hopes for a democratic future, restoring public trust will require demonstrating that it can deliver on those promises.