Some had expected a slap in the face for the ruling ANC in this election.
The economy of South Africa has flatlined. The national power utility is struggling to keep the lights on. Voter apathy is at an all-time high.
Still, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC held onto a significant majority just a few points shy of 60%.
Their win is as much about history as it is about performance — which even Ramaphosa admits has been below par.
The ANC is the liberation party in South Africa and a main force in throwing off the yoke of the racist Apartheid regime a quarter century ago. That counts for a lot, especially amongst the older generation of South Africans.
The ANC-led government has brought electricity and housing to huge swathes of the country that had none — a powerful legacy at election time. Millions depend on the government for social grants and other safety nets. Fairly or unfairly, many identify this with the ANC.
But another factor in this election was Ramaphosa himself.
Despite being the ultimate ANC insider and a deputy president under maligned predecessor Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa seemed to create just enough distance from the graft allegations to appeal to a broader spectrum of South Africans.
Whether the former trade-union leader and private sector billionaire can clean up the party with this mandate remains an important and open question. For now, the voters seem to be giving him the benefit of the doubt.
But the results also show that enthusiasm for the ANC is waning — and Ramaphosa should worry about the future.
Radicals find support in world’s most unequal nation
This is the ANC’s worst showing since 1994. And it represents a steady erosion of support over the past three national elections.
The younger generation in South Africa, who have less attachment to the history of the ANC, stayed away from the ballot in droves.
