2019 South African general election
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| 2019 South African general election | |
|---|---|
 沁水湾 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source | |
| Election name | 2019 South African general election |
| Country | South Africa |
| Type | Parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2014 South African general election |
| Previous year | 2014 |
| Next election | 2024 South African general election |
| Next year | 2024 |
| Seats for election | 400 seats in the National Assembly |
| Majority seats | 201 |
| Election date | 8 May 2019 |
2019 South African general election was held on 8 May 2019 to elect the National Assembly and provincial legislatures in South Africa. The election followed constitutional cycles established after the 1994 South African general election and occurred amid political shifts involving the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, and numerous smaller parties. The vote set the stage for leadership involving Cyril Ramaphosa, Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela-era legacies and debates over Apartheid-era reparations, land reform, and fiscal policy.
Background
The campaign took place in the shadow of controversies linked to Jacob Zuma's presidency, allegations of state capture, and inquiries such as the Zondo Commission. The ruling African National Congress faced internal factionalism between supporters of Cyril Ramaphosa and allies of Jacob Zuma and Dumisa Ntsebeza. The opposition landscape featured the Democratic Alliance under Mmusi Maimane, the radical-left Economic Freedom Fighters led by Julius Malema, and breakaway or regional parties including the Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party, Patriotic Alliance, and Good founded by Patricia de Lille. Socioeconomic debates drew attention to National Treasury policies, South African Reserve Bank, unemployment metrics like SANRAL and Statistics South Africa, and public services controversies such as the Eskom crisis and municipal corruption exemplified by cases in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and City of Johannesburg.
Electoral system
South Africa used a closed-list proportional representation system for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures based on the Constitution of South Africa. The 400-seat National Assembly was elected via two lists: 200 from national lists and 200 from provincial lists, with seat allocation by the Droop quota and Hare quota-derived methods implemented by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Voters cast ballots in a system shaped by the Electoral Act and subject to oversight by institutions such as the Constitutional Court of South Africa in disputes. The election also followed rules on party funding overseen by the Public Protector (South Africa), with registration processes conducted at municipal voting stations coordinated with South African Police Service security.
Parties and campaigns
Major actors included the African National Congress, led into the election by Cyril Ramaphosa after the 2017 ANC National Conference; the Democratic Alliance with Mmusi Maimane; and the Economic Freedom Fighters with Julius Malema. Other national or regional parties contesting seats were the Inkatha Freedom Party led by Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Freedom Front Plus with Pieter Groenewald, African Christian Democratic Party under Kenneth Meshoe, Good under Patricia de Lille, United Democratic Movement led historically by Bantu Holomisa, COPE associated with Mosiuoa Lekota, and new entrants like the Rise Mzansi movement and local lists in metros including City of Cape Town. Campaign themes referenced land expropriation without compensation debates, public utility management concerning Eskom and Transnet, corruption and state capture allegations tied to figures like Gupta family, and socioeconomic targets such as the National Development Plan. Media coverage involved outlets like SABC, eNCA, Daily Maverick, and Mail & Guardian while civil society groups including Democratic Alliance Foundation and Section27 monitored the process.
Opinion polling
Polling was conducted by firms including Ipsos, MarkData, Kantar TNS, and Research ICT Africa, with regular updates in publications such as Business Day and City Press. Polls tracked support for the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, and others, showing a trend of declining ANC support relative to 2014 and growth among minor parties. Polling margins and methodologies were scrutinized by academics from institutions such as the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University and reported to the IEC in the lead-up to voting day.
Results
The IEC announced results allocating 400 seats in the National Assembly; the African National Congress retained a plurality but fell below the two-thirds majority, the Democratic Alliance remained the official opposition, and the Economic Freedom Fighters consolidated as a significant parliamentary bloc. Provincial legislature outcomes reshaped control in provinces including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West, and Northern Cape, with coalition negotiations ensuing in several metros such as City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. Seat distributions triggered strategic talks among parties like African Transformation Movement, Patriotic Alliance, Good, and Newzroom Afrika-covered assemblies.
Reactions and aftermath
Domestic reactions included statements from Cyril Ramaphosa, Mmusi Maimane, and Julius Malema, and responses by civil society actors such as Helen Zille-aligned factions and activists from Economic Freedom Fighters mobilizations. International reactions came from leaders and organizations including the African Union, United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, and foreign states like United States and United Kingdom, offering congratulations and urging reforms on issues highlighted during the campaign. Post-election dynamics involved coalition bargaining guided by parliamentary rules and the Speaker procedures, legal challenges lodged at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and electoral tribunals, and subsequent cabinet appointments shaping policy toward Eskom, fiscal consolidation with National Treasury, and anti-corruption measures connected to the Zondo Commission.
Analysis and impact
Observers from think tanks such as Institute for Security Studies, South African Institute of International Affairs, Human Sciences Research Council, and academic commentators from University of Pretoria assessed the election as a watershed in party realignment, urban voting shifts, and fragmentation of the post-1994 South African general election political order. Analyses emphasized implications for land policy debates involving Public Protector (South Africa) findings, economic confidence affecting markets monitored by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and governance challenges for service delivery in municipalities like eThekwini. The electoral outcome influenced later by-elections, policy revisions, and the strategic positioning of parties ahead of the 2021 South African municipal elections and the subsequent 2024 South African general election cycle.