The South African rand fell 1% against the US dollar in early Johannesburg trade on Thursday, hitting its weakest point in four weeks. Partial results from South Africa’s national election indicated a significant political shift, with the African National Congress (ANC) potentially losing its parliamentary majority after 30 years.
If the final results confirm the early indications, the ANC may need to form a coalition with other parties to govern, leading to political volatility in the upcoming weeks or months.
The ANC is projected to secure around 42% of the vote, a significant decrease from previous elections. This outcome could potentially challenge Cyril Ramaphosa’s position as the country’s president.
In KwaZulu-Natal, a new party led by Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), has gained significant support, posing a challenge to the ANC’s dominance in the region.
The electoral commission has seven days to declare full results, with the new parliament expected to convene within 14 days to elect the nation’s president.