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1 1 (June 7, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govepfp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: South Africa's May 2024 Elections June 7, 2024 South Africa held national and provincial elections on May 29, 2024. After a two-decade decline in voter support, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its National Assembly (NA) majority and, as the NA elects the president, its unitary control over the executive branch. The ANC had held that majority since the first racially inclusive post-apartheid elections in 1994. Talks are underway between the ANC and other parties to form a governing coalition-with implications for South African policy orientations, including foreign policy stances about which multiple Members of Congress have expressed concern. The election outcome poses a major challenge to President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa, in office since 2018. Vote: Outcome and Process The ANC won 40% of the 2024 national vote and 159 out of 400 NA seats, sharply down from elections in 2019-when it won 58% of the vote and 230 seats-while the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) remained the second-largest party, winning 22% of votes and 87 seats, slightly up from 2019. Top runners-up included two ANC splinter parties-uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), a new party led by former President Jacob Zuma (150%, 58 seats) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by ex-ANC youth wing leader-tumed-ANC critic Julius Malema (10%, 39 seats). Fifth was the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP; 4%, 17 seats), a longtime NA seat-holder. The MK was among seven parties that won seats for the first time in the 2024 polls, which featured a historically low 59% voter turnout rate and 52 participating parties. Voters selected parties to fill halfof NA seats at the national level, and at the provincial level elected parties or independents for remaining seats, allocated to the country's nine provinces based on population size. Voters also chose parties or independents for seats in provincial legislatures, which are each to select 10 of 90 National Council of Provinces (upper house) members in proportion to party ratios within their ranks. Election Issues The election came amid concern expressed by some Members of Congress over South Africa's close ties with Russia, the People's Republic of China, and Iran; and the ANC government's international legal interventions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The makeup of South Africa's new governing coalition could affect its position on these issues. While the DA has criticized the ANC's approach to the Israel- Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12374 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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