Rhino: Agencies – Former President Jacob Zuma is emerging as the biggest victor in South Africa’s general election, with his new breakaway party Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) appearing poised to make significant gains at the expense of the country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC).

With more than 97 per cent of the votes counted, Zuma appeared on the verge of seizing power in KwaZulu-Natal, comfortably leading in a province where the ANC has never lost before, since the first post-apartheid election in 1994.

Zuma’s party finished third with about 15 per cent of the vote, behind the ANC, which received about 40 per cent of the vote, and the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (21 per cent).

The votes counted so far paint a clear picture of Zuma’s party winning parts of the ANC’s traditional support in its strongholds. In addition to KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, where the DA appeared poised to return to power with a clear majority, the ANC was also dealt a heavy blow in Gauteng province, where it does not enjoy a significant majority.

Over the past two days, these trends have consolidated, and if they continue, the ANC – for the first time in 30 years – will need to appeal to some opposition parties to support it in a national coalition government if it wants to stay in power.

It will also have to do the same to stay in power in provinces like Gauteng. Analyst Sizwe Mpofu Walsh said these results signal ‘the end of the ANC’s dominance. There is a great deal of hope, as there should be fear. People are worried and unsure of what will happen,’ he said, adding that “it will open up new avenues for change and new avenues for accountability.”

Mpofu Walsh said the ANC’s electoral loss was a combination of arrogance and denial of their failures. Independent political analyst Sandile Swana said the ANC joined other liberation movements that were penalized for failing to achieve their goals.