Next year’s national and provincial elections in South Africa are set to make history with a record number of political parties and independent candidate, according to a recent poll by Ipsos.
During Wednesday’s 2024 elections program launch, the country’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo announced plans for 23,296 operational voting stations.
42.3 Million eligible voters
Approximately 42.3 million South Africans aged 18 and older are eligible to vote. However, only 26,214,764 are registered, indicating that only 62% of eligible voters might cast their ballots in the 2024 elections unless a significant registration boost occurs.
The poll conducted by Ipsos revealed that 15% of the electorate remains undecided or unwilling to express a party preference.
The Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, consisting of six parties, aims to secure 31% to 33% of the vote at this stage. Still, these results are not election predictions due to the evolving political landscape.
Voter turnout projections hover between 45% and 50%, with potential outcomes including the possibility of a national-level coalition government.
Coalition government?
The Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, which currently consists of six parties, aims to secure 31% to 33% of the vote at this stage. It’s important to note that these results do not constitute election predictions due to the ever-evolving political landscape.
A coalition involving just two parties could streamline negotiations, though this remains speculative. Coalition formation may also be a plausible scenario in the country’s most populous provinces.
Ipsos conducted 3,600 face-to-face interviews nationwide from June 1 to July 20, 2023, with a margin of error of plus or minus 0.65. The 2024 elections are poised to be a historic event, with a surge in political participation and a dynamic electoral landscape.
