Velenkosini Hlabisa, the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), addressed supporters at the party’s final rally in Richards Bay, marking the end of their campaign for South Africa’s pivotal elections scheduled for May 29th.
The IFP, one of the smaller opposition parties in the country, seeks to make significant inroads in this election. In South Africa, voters cast their ballots for political parties rather than directly for a presidential candidate. The number of seats a party secures in Parliament is proportional to its share of the vote, and the elected lawmakers then choose the president.
Hlabisa emphasized the IFP’s potential role in a coalition government, saying, “Once the people have spoken, we will consider all available options. There are numerous possibilities, including alliances with parties that have not contributed to the country’s problems or engaged in corruption. Independent candidates could also enhance our numbers.”
The ruling African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, faces a potential shift in the political landscape. If the ANC’s support drops below 50%, it may need to form a coalition to secure the parliamentary votes required to reelect incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa, once a protégé of Nelson Mandela.
Recent polls suggest the ANC’s support is waning, hovering below the critical 50% threshold. This scenario raises the prospect of South Africa’s first national coalition government in its young democracy, established only 30 years ago with the historic all-race elections that ended the apartheid regime.
As the nation approaches this significant electoral milestone, the possibility of a coalition government signals a new chapter in South Africa’s political evolution.