South Africa's Political Shift: ANC Loses Grip After Decades

For the first time in three decades, South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) has lost its majority and will need to form a coalition to govern. The ANC has been active in international issues like challenging Israel over Gaza. Its future role is under scrutiny as South Africa assumes the G20 presidency.

It was a monumental day for South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC), the political party that ended apartheid and brought hopes of a vibrant democracy, has lost its three-decade grip on power, according to election results on Saturday.

For the first time, the ANC will have to form a coalition to govern South Africa, which is increasing its role on the global stage by taking Israel to court over Gaza and assuming the presidency of the Group of 20 nations later this year.

This historical shift leaves the future of a leading voice for the developing world in the balance after the ANC lost its dominance at home.

CHALLENGING ISRAEL OVER GAZA South Africa has become the most vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, accusing it of genocide in a case before the International Court of Justice, the UN's top court. This case has been driven largely by the ANC, which has long identified with the Palestinian cause, drawing uncomfortable parallels with the homelands created for Black South Africans by the apartheid regime.

Israel vehemently denies these genocide allegations. News of the ANC's loss of its parliamentary majority has made headlines in Israel.

The world court case could drag on for years, meaning a new South African coalition government will inherit it. The ANC is likely to form a governing deal with one or more of South Africa's three main opposition parties -- the centrist Democratic Alliance, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), or the new populist MK Party spearheaded by former president Jacob Zuma.

The Democratic Alliance, with around 21 per cent of the vote, opposes the genocide case against Israel and prefers a mediated settlement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The EFF shares the ANC's pro-Palestinian stance and has also accused Israel of genocide. The stance of the MK Party remains unclear.

G20 PRESIDENCY LIES AHEAD South Africa, long seen as a leading voice for the African continent, will assume the prominent presidency of the Group of 20 nations on December 1. As the only African nation in the G20, the ANC and its new governing partners will need to agree on common stances on global issues like climate change, conflict, and international financial reforms.

''Regardless of the electoral outcome, deep-seated elements of South African foreign policy will persist, such as championing Palestinian rights and pushing for international institution reforms to better reflect the priorities of African states,'' wrote Michelle Gavin of the Council on Foreign Relations.

AND THEN THERE'S RUSSIA South Africa's ANC-led diplomacy has drawn attention for its pro-Moscow stance, even after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago. The US and Western nations have recognised the ANC's historical ties to Russia, but tensions escalated when South Africa allowed Russian and Chinese warships to conduct drills off its coast in early 2023.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance has criticized the ANC over its relationship with Russia, accusing it of betraying its claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and tensions between Russia and the West.

Gavin suggested that an ''unstable'' governing coalition could harm South Africa as a business gateway for foreign investors and further align the country with Russia and China.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)