ANC election losses could weaken South Africa's anti-Israel stance

South Africa's municipal elections saw the ANC's vote share fall to about 31%. Former DA official Jason Halfon tells the Post this could gradually weaken the ANC's anti-Israel stance as coalition partners gain leverage, though no immediate policy shift is expected.

South Africa's municipal elections on November 4 saw the African National Congress (ANC) suffer significant losses, with its vote share falling to approximately 30.9%, down from 45.6% in 2021. The Democratic Alliance (DA) received 24.7%, and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party received 9.8%. Seven of eight metropolitan municipalities are heading toward coalition negotiations. Jason Halfon, a former DA official based in Israel, told The Jerusalem Post that while the election does not directly affect national foreign policy, the declining dominance of the ANC could create "latent leverage" for coalition partners to push for a more pragmatic approach to Israel. Halfon argued that the DA's structural position in the Government of National Unity could allow it to link municipal coalition negotiations to broader governance demands, potentially encouraging a gradual shift in South Africa's diplomatic posture. He noted that the ANC's support for the Palestinian cause remains "institutionally entrenched" but that the party's historical balance on the issue has narrowed. The article notes that South Africa's ICJ case against Israel, accusing it of genocide in Gaza, remains ongoing with deadlines set for 2027 and 2029.