Government Politics of South Africa

Last elections: May 2014

Next elections: 2019

Head of state: President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma

Head of government: The President

Ruling party: African National Congress

In the third democratic general election, in April 2004, the African National Congress (ANC) won a decisive mandate, securing 70% of the votes, while the Democratic Alliance took 12% and the Inkatha Freedom Party 7%. The ANC achieved a majority in seven of the nine provinces and gained the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution, though they had not promised any changes in their manifesto.

In December 2007, Jacob Zuma defeated President Thabo Mbeki in the ANC leadership elections, paving the way for his candidacy in the 2009 presidential elections. In the same month, the ANC National Executive Committee ‘recalled’ Mbeki from the presidency, he resigned, and parliament elected ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe to succeed him.

A new political party, the Congress of the People (COPE), was launched in December 2008 under the leadership of Mosiuoa Lekota, former chairman of the ANC and a close ally of Mbeki.

Facing the challenge of COPE and the Democratic Alliance, the ANC nevertheless won 66% of votes in the parliamentary elections in April 2009. The Democratic Alliance, led by Helen Zille, received 17% of votes and COPE 7%. At the first sitting of the National Assembly in May 2009, Zuma was formally elected president; and he then appointed Motlanthe deputy president. COPE’s candidate in the presidential contest was Bishop Mvume Dandala rather than its leader, Lekota.

Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013.

President Zuma and the ANC won the general election on 7 May 2014, securing 249 seats with 62.2% of the vote. The DA – led by Helen Zille – won 89 seats (22.2% of the vote), Economic Freedom Fighters – led by former ANC member Julius Malema – 25 seats (6.4%) and IFP 10 seats (2.4%). Turnout was 73%. On 21 May 2014 the National Assembly re-elected Jacob Zuma President and he was sworn in for a second term on 24 May.