Everson Luhanga
The ANC continues to lead in the Gauteng cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekhurhuleni, but the ruling party could find themselves in coalition talks as the EFF and ActionSA have made significant wins.
Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA seems to have taken most of the votes from the ANC in the townships, especially Soweto, and the DA in the suburbs.
Around midday on Tuesday the ANC was sitting at 42.5% in Tshwane, 29.6% for the DA and FF+ at 11%.
ActionSA continued to make a significant impact in the Johannesburg metro with 18.7% in third position while the ANC led the pack with a dismal 36.4% and the DA in the second position with 25.1%.
Meanwhile, the IEC told the media that 90% of the votes would be counted by Tuesday night.
Gauteng underwent a political earthquake on Monday as Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA appeared to have won a huge slice of former ANC and DA voters in South Africa’s industrial heartland.
The success of Mashaba, whose party was only formed in August 2020, is a sign that South Africa’s urban and suburban voters, who have been crying out for change are tired of the established parties. Many millions signalled the same sentiment by not bothering to vote.
However, the first signs that the ANC was in for a long night in Johannesburg came shortly after the polls closed at 9pm and the counting began. The IEC announced results from voting districts in Soweto showing a 20-30% percent swing away from the ANC.
At the Protea Glen Primary School, ActionSA beat the ANC with 34% of the vote, compared to the ANC’s 32% (a drop of 26 points) and the EFF’s 25% (a drop of six points).
ActionSA secured its first voting district of the night in Kwadukuza in KZN, edging out the DA who won it in 2016.
Mashaba, a businessman who made his money with a famous hair brand has been vocal on immigration policy, condemning undocumented foreign nationals.
Much of his support comes from South Africans who think that the foreign nationals have been flocking into the country and taking their jobs.
At the same time, Julius Malema’s EFF’ open borders for Africa policy appears to have harmed their performance at these polls. Early results on Monday night showed that the EFF was trailing its 2016 results.
Image source: @MSantovian
