Governing ANC faces worst result since end of apartheid
President Cyril Ramaphosa39;s leadership in question
ANC will need to seek coalition partners to govern
Parliament will elect the next president

MIDRAND, South Africa, May 31 Reuters South African parties geared up for coalition talks on Friday as the governing African National Congress ANC looked set to fall well short of a majority for the first time in 30 years of democracy.

While the party of the late Nelson Mandela looked likely to remain the largest political force after Wednesday39;s election, voters appeared to have punished the former liberation movement for years of economic decline which have left many in poverty.

With results in from nearly 70 of polling stations, the ANC had 41.8 of votes, a precipitous drop from the 57.5 it secured in the last national election in 2019.

The party and country will now have to enter a period of coalition building unprecedented in the democratic era, with potential partners ranging from the probusiness Democratic Alliance to insurgent parties led by former ANC figures who fell out with the party.

Investors in Africa39;s most industrialised economy will hope the uncertain picture will quickly become clear.

Among potential coalition partners, the DA was in second place on 22.6, while uMkhonto we Sizwe MK, a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, was at 12.2 and eating into ANC support, particularly in KwaZuluNatal, Zuma39;s home province.

MK has overtaken…