South Africa is preparing for its seventh general elections since the end of apartheid in 1994, which will take place on May 29, 2024. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the date on Wednesday, after consulting with the Electoral Commission and the provincial premiers. The elections will be a crucial test for Ramaphosa and his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, which faces a decline in popularity and a challenge from the opposition parties.
Ramaphosa Calls for Peaceful and Democratic Elections
Ramaphosa, who took office in 2018 after the resignation of his scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma, said that the elections were not only a constitutional obligation, but also a celebration of the country’s democratic journey and a determination of the future that the people desire.
He urged all eligible voters to exercise their democratic right to vote, and to do so peacefully and within the law. He also called on all political parties and candidates to campaign responsibly and respectfully, and to abide by the electoral code of conduct.
He said that the government and the Electoral Commission would ensure that the elections were free, fair, and credible, and that they would adhere to the health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANC Faces Declining Support and Corruption Allegations
The ANC, which has been in power since the first democratic elections in 1994, is facing its toughest electoral battle yet, as it struggles to retain its majority in the 400-seat National Assembly and the nine provincial legislatures.
The ANC has seen its support erode over the years, due to various factors, such as poor service delivery, rising unemployment, rampant corruption, and internal divisions. The party has also been implicated in several scandals, such as the state capture inquiry, which revealed the extent of the influence of the Gupta family, a wealthy business clan with close ties to Zuma, over the government and state-owned enterprises.
The ANC has also faced criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 100,000 lives and devastated the economy. The party has been accused of mismanaging the vaccine rollout, imposing harsh lockdowns, and failing to provide adequate relief to the poor and the vulnerable.
The ANC’s main rivals are the Democratic Alliance (DA), the largest opposition party, which has a strong base in the urban areas and among the white and mixed-race voters, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a radical leftist party, which has a strong appeal among the young and the poor, especially in the rural areas and the townships.
The DA and the EFF have been campaigning on the issues of good governance, economic growth, job creation, land reform, and social justice. They have also formed alliances with smaller parties, such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), to challenge the ANC’s dominance.
South Africa Marks 30 Years of Democracy and Freedom
The 2024 elections will also coincide with the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid, the system of racial segregation and oppression that lasted from 1948 to 1994. The elections will be an opportunity for the people of South Africa to reflect on their achievements and challenges, and to chart a new course for their future.
South Africa is widely regarded as a model of democracy and reconciliation in Africa and the world, as it successfully transitioned from a brutal regime to a constitutional democracy, under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela, the first black president and the founding father of the nation.
However, South Africa also faces many social and economic problems, such as inequality, poverty, crime, violence, and racism, which threaten to undermine its stability and progress. The elections will be a chance for the people of South Africa to express their aspirations and grievances, and to hold their leaders accountable.
