The results are in.
No shocks and no surprises, really.
As expected, the ANC continues to hold majority rule - albeit dipping to below 50% for the first time to just over 46% of the national vote (from 53.5% in 2016).
They've come out tops in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
It's neck and neck in Nelson Mandela Bay between the ruling party and the DA.
As expected, the opposition has lost support under John Steenhuisen, down to about 21.8% from predecessor Mmusi Maimane's 26.9% last time around.
Ouch. Yet another "failed experiment"?
The DA even shed votes in its Western Cape stronghold - from 63% in 2016 to 54.2%.
The big winner in this year's local government elections was the EFF, breaking the 10% mark after gaining 8.2% of the vote five years ago.
Leader Julius "The Kingmaker" Malema's appointment book will be full for the next few weeks with invitations from the DA.
Mathematically, a coalition between the two could knock the ANC out of almost every metro in the country - IF their ideologies weren't so diametrically opposite.
I mean, even Kim Kardashian and Kanye West made a better couple.
It would be a recipe for political disaster at local government level, still, stranger things have happened.
Shame, the DA must be wondering what the hell to try next.
Come every election, the ANC is ripe for the taking.
Just days before the poll, the country was plunged into darkness, thanks to load shedding.
The ruling party has done nothing right under Cyril Ramaphosa, if anything we have gone backwards in the past four years.
Corruption, maladministration, crime and unemployment are worse than ever - even before the pandemic came along.
It was reported this week that Ramaphosa has struck a R131 billion deal to transition Eskom from coal to green energy.
The deal will be funded by SA's "white monopoly capital" partners the US, UK, France, Germany and the European Union.
Compare with former president Jacob Zuma and his failed $76 billion nuclear deal with the Russians, which was stamped “BRICS”, in the name of "radical economic transformation".
Same ship, different captain.
Look, the ANC's governance track record speaks for itself. We all know what to expect.
New promises and new policies, without the execution.
There is no reason to believe anything is going to change for the better over the next five years.
Yet, somehow over 10 million South Africans voted for them...
Depressing, isn't it.
Wouldn't it be refreshing to see someone else mess up the country for a change?
As much as it pains to say it, give Steenhuisen and his yapping yuppies a chance for a few years.
They're desperate to have a term in office and given the chance, you can bet they'd work their socks off to remain in power.
Or someone else, anyone else. Even Malema, Aunty Pat or the new kids on the block, ActionSA.
Yes, it's too late now, with this election done and dusted.
But there’s always next time. We live in hope.