President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that the 2024 general national and provincial elections will be in May.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa declared 29 May as the date for the elections.
- Political parties welcomed Ramaphosa’s announcement.
- It coincides with South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africans will go to the polls on 29 May 2024.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in accordance with section 49(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, read with section 17 of the Electoral Act of 1998, determined 29 May 2024, as the date for the 2024 general national and provincial elections.”
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Magwenya said: “The president has also, in line with section 17(2) of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998, consulted with the IEC on the election date. Furthermore, the president convened a meeting with all 9 provincial premiers and the IEC to discuss the state of readiness for the general elections.”
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Magwenya said the 2024 elections would coincide with South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy – and, therefore, “Ramaphosa calls on all eligible voters to fully participate in this important and historic milestone of our democratic calendar”.
Ramaphosa said:
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. 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.
Political parties breathed a sigh of relief after the announcement.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party had prepared meticulously for the upcoming elections.
“This election is a turning point for South Africa, and it comes at a time when our nation needs it the most in three decades. The DA is fully prepared for the challenge ahead, and we are all-systems-go for the 29 May date. The DA is ready to fight this election, so South Africa can win,” said Steenhuisen.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said the party welcomed the “long overdue ” announcement.
“We have long been ready internally for an outright victory in these elections,” Tambo said.
“EFF supporters are ready to go and cast their votes. We encourage our people to go out and vote on 29 May 2024 for land and jobs now, and to stop load shedding.”
Rise Mzansi spokesperson Mabine Seabe said: “This will mark the first election for Rise Mzansi, which has excited the electorate with its people-centred politics and vision of building a safe, prosperous, equal and united South Africa, where every citizen can live a happy and dignified life.
“Rise Mzansi is fully geared to begin campaigning in earnest and will be on the ballot nationally and in all nine provinces, having obtained the necessary signatures to do so.”
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FF Plus’ Pieter Groenewald told News24 the date provided certainty for political parties and the electorate.
“Political parties can now do better planning for their election campaigns in the build-up to 29 May 2024,” he said.
Groenewald reminded South Africans that they could only vote where they were registered.
“They can also do their planning to determine where they will be on 29 May 2024 and can still register online on the IEC website. Although it is a very short period, we expect the proclamation of the election by Friday.”
He called on South Africans to use the time to register to vote “because this is a very important election for the future of South Africa”.
Political think tank Rivonia Circle’s Lukhona Mnguni said Ramaphosa’s announcement was vital because it gave political parties a sense of timelines.
“What is clear is that the IEC said it needs about 86 days to prepare for an election from the date it is proclaimed. We are now about 99 days until the elections, and the president has about two weeks to proclaim, so that the IEC timetable can then be rolled out.”
Mnguni said the announcement added urgency to Rivonia Circle’s Constitutional Court bid on signature requirements for unrepresented political parties and independent candidates.
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Action SA’s Michael Beaumont said the party would continue to “run a positive campaign which will be a departure from a political establishment that has failed South Africans by focusing on one another more than the crisis that has developed under their time in Parliament”.
He added: “ActionSA’s campaign will strive to show all South Africans that ‘We Can Fix South Africa’, but that this work can only begin once the ANC is removed from office. ActionSA is the party that will achieve this.”
The IFP’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the date would allow his party to plan better.
Hlengwa said: “The IFP national campaign committee will now streamline all our plans and programmes of action to ensure the IFP’s electoral support. We also encourage every South African to register to vote online – once the president promulgates the Election Day officially, the voters roll will close.”
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