South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, which has been in power for the past three decades, has lost a majority of seats in the National Assembly for the first time.
The South African electoral commission on Sunday announced results from Wednesday's general election.
The results show the ANC won 159 out of 400 seats in the national assembly. It was the first time that the party failed to secure a majority in a national election.
In 1994, the ANC won South Africa's first democratic elections, in which citizens of all races were allowed to vote, and Nelson Mandela became the country's first Black president.
But support for the party has waned amid growing public frustration with widespread corruption, a sluggish economy and worsening security.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who leads the ANC, said, "As leaders of political parties, we have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their choices and their wishes."
The ANC is expected to begin coalition negotiations with other parties, including the white-led Democratic Alliance party, which won the second-most seats and the third-largest party led by former President Jacob Zuma who left the ANC.
Observers say it remains to be seen whether the parties can reach a deal over conditions to form a coalition for a stable government.