Independent candidate Zackie Achmat makes peace with poll failure, fears ANC coalition with EFF, MK

CAPE TOWN - The country’s most successful independent candidate in last week’s election said that beyond losing his attempt to enter Parliament, he’s fearful of an African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and MK coalition for the country. 

With just over 10,500 votes, Zackie Achmat fell well short of the votes required for a parliamentary seat. 

But he said that the odds were stacked against independent candidates from the start. 

Achmat may not have realised his parliamentary ambitions but he still received more votes than all other independent candidates combined and even more than some small political parties. 

"They entered the race late, they had less resources, so it’s not an indictment on them, it’s the fact that given the way the system is set up, you have to create a party-type organisation in order to win."

But there will be no pity party for Achmat.

If anything, this experience has spurred him on to challenge the 2026 local government elections. 

"I do not want Jacob Zuma to rule the country again, because if the ANC goes into coalition with the EFF and MK, it effectively means Jacob Zuma is running the country."

Achmat benefited from the so-called "split vote", where voters voted for political parties at the provincial level but gave him their regional ballot vote. 

"They are as diverse as coming from Beaufort West, Kalk Bay, Khayelitsha and Elsies River, so across class, and race and gender, and sexual orientation and age, and even political party."

He said that through this experience, his team had set up a number of activist forums on which he would continue to build.