Media Statement

The African National Congress (ANC) commends the people of South Africans for once again demonstrating the strength and vibrancy of our democracy.

While we still await the formal announcement of results by the IEC, it is clear that the ANC has won the most votes and remains the most popular party in South Africa.

The ANC has also achieved a decisive majority in six provinces.

The ANC thanks all those who voted for the organisation, who showed confidence in our concerted efforts to get our country back on a path to prosperity for all and for supporting our efforts to rid the ANC of corrupt elements as part of our renewal process.

The millions of South Africans who voted for the ANC have seen the effects of the work we have done to end load shedding, to revive our infrastructure programme, to provide social protection to the poor and unemployed, to provide work opportunities and work experience to young people, and to hold those responsible for corruption to account.

The ANC emerges from this election with a firm mandate to continue this work to rebuild the economy, create jobs, end corruption, tackle the high cost of living and continue the transformation of the economy and society.

While the ANC has won the most votes in this election, the results show a significant decline in the ANC support from previous elections. While there are several factors that have contributed to the decline in support, the results send a clear message to the ANC.

We wish to assure the people of South Africa that we have heard them. We have heard their concerns, their frustrations and their dissatisfaction.

Over the last six years, the ANC has been engaged in a process of renewal and revitalisation. This process is not yet complete, and the election results show that we need to intensify and accelerate the fundamental renewal of our movement.

We want to assure the people of South Africa that the ANC will not turn its back on renewal. On this matter, on the renewal and rebuilding of our movement, we will not compromise.

The results also show people’s concerns about shortcomings in governance and delivery. We enter a new term with both a clear mandate and a firm commitment to improve the maintenance of infrastructure and the provision of services in communities throughout the country.

The ANC is committed to the formation of a government that reflects the will of the people, that is stable and that is able to govern effectively. The ANC is committed to pursue a path of fundamental social and economic change, for which it has received a firm mandate.

Over the next few days, the ANC will be having discussions within the organisation and with other parties and stakeholders on how best to establish national and provincial governments that reflect the will of the people, and that are able to take the country forward.

The voters of South Africa have shown that they expect the leaders of this country to work together in the interests of all.

We will continue to act responsibly, progressively and, at all times, in the interests of the people of South Africa.

We will continue to uphold the rule of law and call on all South Africans to respect the laws, rules and codes that govern the conduct of elections. It is through the consistent application of these rules that over the course of 30 years, our the freeness and fairness of our elections have been assured.

We call on all South Africans to resist the efforts of those forces who want to weaken our democracy, who want to undermine our electoral processes and who want to disregard the will of the people.

As a nation, we will stand together against those who threaten violence and instability. The people of South Africa, as they have shown in the past, will not tolerate any threats to our democracy.

The people of South Africa have made their wishes known in free and fair elections and we must all respect them.

The ANC once again extends its appreciation to all voters, many of whom waited in queues for several hours, even late into the night.

The ANC thanks the Independent Electoral Commission, its staff and election workers for their contribution to successful election days. We also thank all party agents, observers from the Continent and abroad, police and defence force personnel, and members of the media.

As we have done since the formation of our movement more than 112 years, the African National Congress will put the interests and the well-being of South Africans first.

Let’s do more, together.