The recent local elections  have shown a shift in South African society and politics, which have been dominated by race since Nelson Mandela swept to power in 1994.
The results may even mark the start of a new era, distinct from the “post-apartheid” period that immediately followed the end of white-minority rule, as the African National Congress (ANC) wakes up to the changed reality that it can no longer rely on the unquestioning support of poor black voters.
Angry about corruption, unemployment and shoddy basic services, many ANC supporters have turned to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) - making a switch that was unthinkable only a few years ago when the party was still seen as the political home of wealthy whites.
Voters have also become disillusioned by festering inequality; black people make up 80% of the 54mn population yet, two decades after apartheid, most of the economy in terms of ownership of land and companies remains in the hands of white people, who account for about 8% of the population.
The biggest shock for ANC should be its defeat in a  metropolitan district named after Mandela. DA candidate Athol Trollip, a white ex-farmer, is likely to become mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality  which comprises the city of Port Elizabeth, the nearby towns of Uitenhage and Despatch and the surrounding rural area. DA won 47% of the vote against the ANC’s 41%, down from 52% five years ago in the region.
The ANC has also lost its majorities in Johannesburg and the municipality that is home to the capital Pretoria, in its biggest ever election losses, which have dealt a significant blow to President Jacob Zuma.
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said the party was chastened by the results.“We need to have a serious introspection,” he admitted.
The DA also boosted its majority in Cape Town to more than two-thirds, a resounding vote of confidence in its ability to govern.
During campaigning, the ANC spent much time and money reminding voters of its liberation legacy and of the DA’s white roots, even comparing the party to the former apartheid regime.
But the DA has  benefited from an image change, promoting a diverse range of candidates including its first black leader,  Mmusi Maimane, who has headed the party since last year.
With solid support in rural areas, the ANC still has majority support across the country, a reflection of its liberation struggle history and the significant improvement in basic living standards for poor South Africans since apartheid.
However, its share of the total vote, projected at 54%, represents a big drop from 62% five years ago.
If the DA is to capitalise on its gains  and broaden its appeal ahead of a general election in 2019 it will need to prove it can redistribute wealth to benefit the black majority.