South Africa's election results will be announced this weekend, electoral commission officials said at a news conference on Friday.
Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said that 71.76 percent of votes had been recorded, and that after official results are announced “the list of elected representatives will be published in the Government Gazette and thereafter handed over to the chief justice for purposes of convening the first meeting of the national assembly.”
Wednesday’s vote came 30 years after the end of the apartheid rule, in which Nelson Mandela led the African National Congress to victory in the country’s first democratic elections.
ANC has ruled South Africa since, but in recent years the party has seen widespread discontent with rampant unemployment and a high cost of living.
As of Friday afternoon, the ANC held less than 42% of votes. If they are unable to obtain more than 50%, they will be unable to keep President Cyril Ramaphosa in power unless they form a coalition with other parties.