South Africa’s 2024 general election marked a historic shift when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time since 1994. A new book, Election 2024, South Africa: Countdown to Coalition, edited by Collette Schulz-Herzenberg of Stellenbosch University and Roger Southall of the University of the Witwatersrand, explores the implications of this political upheaval.
The election led to the formation of a coalition government, combining the ANC with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and eight smaller parties. Voter turnout among the eligible population fell sharply to 41%, highlighting widespread disillusionment with the political process.
Despite these challenges, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) maintained the integrity of the vote, even as former President Jacob Zuma’s newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party mounted significant legal and political challenges. Zuma’s party claimed it had been denied a two-thirds majority, sparking multiple court cases, though these claims were not substantiated.
The MK Party emerged as the biggest surprise of the election, winning 14.6% of the national vote and 45% in KwaZulu-Natal. Its success came at the expense of both the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The party advocates shifting South Africa from constitutional supremacy to parliamentary supremacy, aiming to concentrate political power along racial and demographic lines, according to the book’s authors.
The rise of the MK Party could destabilize the coalition government, especially if the ANC performs poorly in the 2026 local elections. Analysts suggest that younger voters, who make up nearly 18% of the electorate, are increasingly critical of the ANC and its legacy, leaving the party’s future uncertain.
The book warns that if the MK Party continues to gain influence, South Africa’s constitutional democracy could face serious risks. The ANC will need to modernize and appeal to younger voters to remain relevant in the evolving political landscape.
The 2024 elections ultimately reflected a preference for a centrist government, but the growing strength of radical parties such as the MK Party signals potential challenges to South Africa’s political stability in the coming years.
