Elections in South Africa

South Africa

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of South Africa

Constitution Bill of Rights Government Executive President Jacob Zuma Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe Cabinet Shadow Cabinet Legislative Parliament National Council of Provinces Chairperson M. J. Mahlangu National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu Leader of the Opposition Helen Zille (national) Athol Trollip (parliamentary) Elections General: 1910 1915 1920 1921 1924 1929 1933 1938 1943 1948 1953 1958 1961 1966 1970 1974 1977 1981 1984 1987 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 Municipal: 2000 2006 2011 Referendums: 1960 1983 1992 Judiciary Chief Justice Pius Langa President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Lex Mpati Courts Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Appeal High Court Magistrates Courts Provinces Districts (MMs, DMs) Municipalities (list) Political parties Foreign relations

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Elections in South Africa take place on national, provincial, and local levels. South Africa is a multi-party democracy with the African National Congress in power with a significant majority since 1994. Although South Africa's democracy is rated as flawed in the Democracy Index survey conducted by the Economist, its score for electoral process is the same as that of the United States and Japan.^[1]. A system of proportional representation, incorporating party lists, is in place which makes it possible for small parties to achieve representation in parliament.

The parliament has two chambers, and elects the president. The National Assembly has 400 members, elected for a five year term. The National Council of Provinces has 90 members, elected for a five year term by the provincial parliaments. The National Assembly and Provincial Councils are elected when General Elections are held.

Members to the local governing councils in the municipalities and mayors are elected in municipal elections.

History

Early days of the Union

At the time of Unification and admission as a dominion of Great Britain in 1910 until the 1929 elections the franchise structures of the constituent colonies were applied. Subsequently only white men were allowed to vote in three of the provinces while a highly restricted number of black and coloured men where able to vote in the Cape Province. In 1930 white women received political franchise. However by 1939 black men were disenfranchised in the Cape by being placed on a separate voters roll - eventually this representation was removed.

Constitutional Crisis in 1950s

After coming to power in 1948 the National Party engaged in a policy of removing coloured voters in a similar manner to black voters. This policy lead to legal challenges and amounted to a Constitutional Crisis which was stopped by Parliament reconstituting the Senate. During the crisis the Supreme Court asserted its right to test the procedure of law creation by Parliament.

Republic of South Africa

In 1960 a referendum was held to decide whether to become a republic. No changes were made to the franchise with the Republic's emergence in 1961. However with the policy of establishing Bantustans the remaining black representation in the Senate was completely removed.

Tricameral Parliament

After the 1983 referendum, it was decided to create a Tricameral Parliament, giving limited political franchise to the Coloured and Indian population groups.

End of Apartheid

After the 1992 referendum, deciding to end apartheid, universal suffrage was implemented allowing people of all races to take part in the first democratic elections in 1994.

Since 1994 all adult South Africans have in principle possessed the franchise and the right to vote is entrenched in the Constitution, however various logistical challenges still exist as is common with all democracies

Election results

2004 general election

About 56% of eligible voters took part in the election, with the ANC receiving support from about 38% of all eligible voters.^[2].

2009 general election

Notes:

* The 2009 Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) was an alliance of the 2004 Christian Democratic Party (CDP), the 2004 New Labour Party (NLP) and other parties that weren't on the 2004 national ballot.

Past elections and referendums

v • d • e Elections and referendums in South Africa General elections 1910 · 1915 · 1920 · 1921 · 1924 · 1929 · 1933 · 1938 · 1943 · 1948 · 1953 · 1958 · 1961 · 1966 · 1970 · 1974 · 1977 · 1981 · 1984 · 1987 · 1989 · 1994 · 1999 · 2004 · 2009 Municipal elections 2000 · 2006 · 2011 Referendums 1960 · 1983 · 1992

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system

References

1. ^ "Democracy Index 2008". http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/25828/20081021185552/graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy%20Index%202008.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-11. 
2. ^ McKinley, Dale T. (2004-04-29). "South Africa: A disillusioned democracy". Green Left Weekly. http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/580/580p18.htm. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "State of parties after floor-crossing as at 17 September 2007". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. http://www.pmg.org.za/parlinfo/seats. Retrieved on 2009-04-26. 
4. ^ "Official national election results". Independent Online. Reuters. 2009-04-25. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090425180808812C584100. Retrieved on 2009-04-26. 
5. ^ "South Africa: 2009 National Assembly election results". EISA. April 2009. http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/sou2009results1.htm. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 
6. ^ "South Africa: National results 2004". EISA. May 2007. http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/souresults2004.htm. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 

• "Women's suffrage". http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/suffrage.htm. Retrieved on 2006-03-04. 
• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• African Elections Database

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