South Africa's ANC Loses Majority, Seeks Coalition

With more than 98 percent of votes in Wednesday's general election counted, the ANC was leading but with a score of 40 percent -- well below the 57 percent it won in 2019 (Credit: AFP)

South Africa's ruling ANC awaited the imminent confirmation on Saturday that it had lost its three-decade-old absolute majority and would have to find allies if it is to remain in power.

With more than 98 percent of the votes from Wednesday's election counted, President Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress had only 40.15 percent support, a catastrophic slump from the 57.5 it won in 2019.