South Africa's ANC loses control of Pretoria in yet another election setback

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Matters have gone from bad to worse for the African National Congress. South Africa’s ruling party has lost control of the administrative capital Pretoria. The opposition Democratic Alliance took 43 percent of the vote in the municipality the city sits in, to the ANC’s 41 percent.

City of Tshwane is at 100% vote count. ANC received 41.22% support with 728 652 votes and 89 seats. #ANCThanksSA pic.twitter.com/SkLLcH0f0t— #ANCThanksSA (@MYANC) August 6, 2016


The liberal DA must now form a coalition to seize control of the area.

President Jacob Zuma’s ANC has suffered huge losses in the election.

“These elections were hotly contested with competing parties passionately arguing their points of view in attempts to win the favour of the electorate. That is how it should be in a democracy,” he said in a statement after the result was announced.

Although the late Nelson Mandela’s social democrats retained their grip on power nationally, the DA has seized control of key areas including the bay named after the former president and anti-apartheid activist.

South Africans join hands in Nelson Mandela Bay #KhulaDA #ThankYouNMB https://t.co/PldXHQZRlY— #KhulaDA (@Our_DA) August 6, 2016


The ANC managed to cling on to the hotly-contested Johannesburg seat. However, it fell short of an outright majority in the country’s biggest city, with just over 44 percent of the vote.

100% vote count completed in Johannesburg. ANC leads with 44,55% support, 1 council, & 121 seats #ANCThanksSA pic.twitter.com/F9Qgd4kMjV— #ANCThanksSA (@MYANC) August 6, 2016


The election outcome suggests work is needed before South Africa’s general election in 2019. The DA is creeping up on the ANC with around 27 percent of the national vote, to its opponent’s 54 percent.

Newcomers to local elections, the radical Economic Freedom Fighters party attained some eight percent of the vote, prompting it to create a poll on Twitter, asking users which party it should form an alliance with, if needed.

If EFF goes on a coalition, which party should we vote with?— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 5, 2016

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