President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced Monday, 29 May 2024 as the date for this year’s national and provincial elections in South Africa, with a formal proclamation to come “in due course.”
The determination followed consultations with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), a statement from the Presidency said on Tuesday (20 February). The President also convened a meeting with all nine premiers and the IEC to discuss the state of readiness for the polls.
Ramaphosa announces 2024 election date
The 2024 elections will be historic because they coincide with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democratic transition to freedom. Ramaphosa therefore urged all eligible voters to participate fully “in this important and historic milestone.”
“Beyond the fulfilment of our constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of our democratic journey and a determination of the future that we all desire,” he said. “I call on all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote and for those who will be campaigning to do so peacefully, within the full observance of the law. We also urge unregistered voters to use the online registration platform to register.”
The two main opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), welcomed the election date announcement.
“The DA welcomes this crucial announcement as a countdown to a historic moment where South Africa has the opportunity to rescue itself from 30 years of ANC failure, corruption and state capture,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said.
“These elections mark an opportunity for all South Africans to put to an end to the misery we have suffered as a nation under the incompetent, corrupt and misguided governance of the ruling party, the ANC, for 30 years,” the EFF added.
The ANC did not immediately issue a statement. However, its Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula shared a brief post on X that simply said, “29 May 2024; save the date,” along with a hashtag urging supporters to register to vote ANC.
The latest opinion polls show that the ANC is at risk of garnering less than 50 percent of the vote for the first time since the 1994 elections.