Election 2024 –What is it all about?

The country is in a buzz about the oncoming election, yet some voters are still uncertain where, and for whom to cast their vote.

On Wednesday, 29 May 2024, South Africans will head to the polls for the National Elections marking 30 years of a democratic dispensation, where one man, one vote is key. Just over 27 million people out of a population of 62 million, are registered to vote.

Currently, the African National Congress (ANC) has the majority of the vote, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is the second largest party, and in most cases, the major opposition party, and the third largest party is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), followed with narrow margins by all the rest.

This election will see 70 parties contesting the National Elections, with the new party of former Pres. Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe, the one that causes the most apprehension. The biggest threat to the ANC receiving an outright majority (more than 50%) of the vote is the former disgruntled members of the ANC that have started their political parties, like Jacob Zuma (MK), Julius Malema (EFF), Ace Magashule (ACT), and other contenders.

For better or for worse, South Africans are stuck with a myriad of political parties, that according to experts, only serve to divide the votes and keep the ANC in power.

What can South Africans expect at the polling stations and how does the three-ballot paper system work? We as the voters in South Africa do not vote for the president of the country, instead, the voters decide on the compilation of Parliament, where the 400 members of the National Assembly will then elect the ruling president of the country. The ruling party must obtain 201 votes in the National Assembly to elect the president. In the previous National Election, the ANC garnered 57,5% of the national vote, while the DA had approximately 20% and the EFF just over 10%.

South Africa’s voter demographic is very complex with a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society, with five distinct racial groups. We have 12 official languages and all of this just adds up to a very complicated political picture.

How does the three-ballot paper voting system work in South Africa? Voters will be faced with three ballot papers on election day:

• 1 – The National Ballot – this will indicate the 52 parties vying for one of 400 seats in the National Assembly.
• 2 – The Regional or Provincial to National Ballot – this will include all parties and independent candidates contesting for seats on the National Assembly reserved for each of the nine provinces, these will range from 33 to 44 candidates, depending on the province.
• 3 – The Provincial Ballot – this ballot is unique for each province and includes all parties and independent candidates seeking seats in the Provincial Legislature. Candidates will represent the people within the province. These numbers will range between 24 to 45 contestants, depending on the province.

In essence, the first two ballot papers – The National Ballot, and The Regional or Province to National Ballot – will represent the 400 seats in the National assembly, and the Provincial Ballot will represent the Provincial Legislature seats.

Sy Mamobolo, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) simplified it by saying:

“Therefore, in respect to the National Assembly voters may elect a preferred party or independent on the regional ballot. However, in respect to provincial elections, voters will elect a preferred party or independent candidate on a single provincial ballot.”

Voters can vote for a different candidate on all three ballots, but they are urged to ensure that they only mark one candidate on each of the three ballots for that vote to be counted.