Pretoria, May 13 (RHC)-- South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed the victory of the African National Congress (ANC) and president Cyril Ramaphosa with 57.50% of the vote.

The center party Democratic Alliance (AD), which has traditionally been associated with the white minority, became the South Africa's second most important party under the leadership of Mmusi Maimane, taking 20.77 percent of the votes.  During the 2014 election, however, the AD had slightly lower results.

The decline in popularity of the ANC and DC benefited the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a leftist party led by Julius Malema who was a former leader of the ANC youth group.  This political force, formed six years ago, obtained 10.79 percent of the popular vote.

Former Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete and former Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, who led international electoral monitoring missions, testified that the South African elections proceeded in accordance with the local Constitution and laws.

South Africans are now hoping that Ramaphosa will create more jobs and "revive the economy," which were the two greatest promises made by all parties.