A Christian government worker in South Africa is urging people to pray for shared values and justice after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time since Apartheid ended thirty years ago.

Speaking to Premier Sanmarie Moore said she was heartened that so many people exercised their right to vote with long queues at polling stations. And she’s reminding Christians to be “salt and light” as the country begins talks to appoint a new coalition government:

“People came out and voted and really wanted their voice to be heard. As children of God our identity is in Jesus, but we want to be salt and light where we are. So that part was so beautiful to see that people want their voices to be heard.

“The numbers for the ANC have been declining in every election and I think as our democracy grows, people find their own voice and trust that they also have a say and can bring justice. There are several major issues, poverty, inequality and unemployment and many people are still ,after 30 years in desperate positions.”

The leader of the African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa, said the result is a sign the South African people wanted more co-operation between major parties.

Sanmarie Moore told Premier she’s hopeful for the future:

“We look forward to seeing what the negotiations bring about. We are praying and we're very hopeful that the shared values and our hope for freedom for everyone brings people together. We pray that it will be a people centric focus on poverty alleviation and justice.

“We must pray that there will be justice, corruption will be eradicated and that the new leaders appointed will work together. We know that we find freedom only in Jesus Christ, but we pray that through the systems, justice can form part of a daily reality for many.”

The ANC, while losing its majority, still took more than 40 per cent of the vote.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), received almost 22 per cent of the vote.