2004 South African general election

General elections were held in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 April 2004.[1] The African National Congress (ANC) of President Thabo Mbeki, which came to power after the end of the apartheid system in 1994, was re-elected with an increased majority.

2004 South African general election

14 April 2004

All 400 seats to the National Assembly of South Africa
201 seats needed for a majority
Turnout76.70% Decrease
  First party Second party Third party
 
SthAfrica.ThaboMbeki.01.jpg
TonyLeon.jpg
Mangosuthu Buthelezi, May 2019 (cropped).png
Leader Thabo Mbeki Tony Leon Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Party ANC Democratic Alliance IFP
Leader's seat National List Gauteng National List
Last election 66.35%, 266 seats 9.56%, 38 seats[lower-alpha 1] 8.58%, 34 seats
Seats won 279 50 28
Seat change Increase13 Increase12 Decrease6
Popular vote 10,880,915 1,931,201 1,088,664
Percentage 69.69% 12.37% 6.97%
Swing Increase3.34% Increase2.81% Decrease1.61%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Bantu Holomisa.png
Patricia de Lille DA Election-Launch 2011.jpg
Marthinus van Schalkwyk crop.jpg
Leader Bantu Holomisa Patricia de Lille Marthinus van Schalkwyk
Party UDM ID NNP
Leader's seat National List Gauteng Western Cape
Last election 3.42%, 14 seats 6.87%, 28 seats
Seats won 9 7 7
Seat change Decrease5 New Decrease21
Popular vote 355,717 269,765 257,842
Percentage 2.28% 1.73% 1.65%
Swing Decrease1.14% New Decrease5.22%


President before election

Thabo Mbeki
ANC

Elected President

Thabo Mbeki
ANC

These were the third elections held since the end of the apartheid era. The South African National Assembly consists of 400 members, elected by proportional representation.[2] 200 members are elected from national party lists, the other 200 are elected from party lists in each of the nine provinces. The President of South Africa is chosen by the National Assembly after each election.

The ANC, which has been in power since 1994, obtained 69.7% of votes cast on the national ballot, theoretically allowing them to change the constitution.

Some 20.6-million people were registered for the 2004 general elections, which was about 2 million more than in 1999.[3] About 76% of registered voters took part in the election, with the ANC receiving 69.7% of the votes cast. However, only 56% of eligible voters (South African citizens of voting age) took part in the 2004 election, which means that the ANC received votes from only about 38% of all eligible voters.[4][5]

The year 2004 saw an increase in voter abstention and there was at least one high-profile election and registration boycotts campaign, the No Land! No House! No Vote! Campaign.[6][7] A major electoral issue during the election was the dominance of the ANC; detractors of the ANC, most notably the Democratic Alliance, argued that the party's political dominance posed a threat to the country's democratic institutions and that voters should therefore vote for opposition parties.[8]

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, also obtained an increased percentage on the national ballot, most likely from former supporters of the New National Party (NNP), possibly losing some support to Patricia de Lille's new Independent Democrats. The NNP, a descendant of the ruling party of the apartheid era, collapsed and lost most of their support, dropping from 6.9% in 1999 to 1.7% (it was 20.4% in 1994), many of their supporters being unhappy with their alliance with the ANC. The NNP alliance with the ANC allowed the ANC gain control of the Western Cape and City of Cape Town; following the election the NNP elected to dissolve and merge with the ANC.[9]

The Independent Democrats surprised many observers by obtaining more votes than the New National Party, becoming the fifth largest party. The Inkatha Freedom Party lost some support, including the majority in their stronghold province of Kwazulu-Natal, while the United Democratic Movement also lost support, barely hanging on as opposition in their stronghold, the Eastern Cape.

Events

A corruption scandal dubbed "Oilgate" by the South African media surfaced when it was reported that R11 million was transferred from the state owned PetroSA to help fund the African National Congress' election campaign.[10][11] Following the election the Mail and Guardian newspaper was controversially gagged from publishing a report on the Oilgate scandal.[12]

National Assembly results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress10,880,91569.69279+13
Democratic Alliance1,931,20112.3750+12
Inkatha Freedom Party1,088,6646.9728−6
United Democratic Movement355,7172.289−5
Independent Democrats269,7651.737New
New National Party257,8241.657−21
African Christian Democratic Party250,2721.607+1
Freedom Front Plus139,4650.8940
United Christian Democratic Party117,7920.7530
Pan Africanist Congress113,5120.7330
Minority Front55,2670.352+1
Azanian People's Organisation39,1160.2510
Christian Democratic Party17,6190.110New
National Action15,8040.100New
Peace and Justice Congress15,1870.100New
Socialist Party of Azania14,8530.1000
New Labour Party13,3180.090New
United Front11,8890.080New
Employment Movement for South Africa10,4460.070New
The Organisation Party7,5310.050New
Keep It Straight and Simple Party6,5140.0400
Total15,612,671100.004000
Valid votes15,612,67198.42
Invalid/blank votes250,8871.58
Total votes15,863,558100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,674,92676.73
Source: Election Resources

Contested seat

When the official results were released, the ACDP successfully challenged the outcome. As a result, one of the two seats AZAPO won initially was handed over to the ACDP.[13]

Provincial legislature results

Elections for the nine provincial parliaments were held at the same time as for the National Assembly.

Party EC FS G KZN L M NW NC WC
African National Congress512551384527272119
Democratic Alliance53157222312
Inkatha Freedom Party230
United Democratic Movement61111
African Christian Democratic Party112112
New National Party25
Independent Democrats123
Freedom Front Plus11111
United Christian Democratic Party3
Pan Africanist Congress11
Minority Front2
Total633073804930333042

Eastern Cape

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress1,768,98779.2751+4
United Democratic Movement205,9939.236−3
Democratic Alliance163,7857.345+1
Pan Africanist Congress22,3241.0010
African Christian Democratic Party17,3720.7800
Independent Democrats17,3140.780New
New National Party14,0840.630−2
Freedom Front Plus5,6920.2600
Inkatha Freedom Party4,3730.2000
Azanian People's Organisation3,8840.170New
Socialist Party of Azania3,3560.150New
United Christian Democratic Party2,7070.120New
National Action1,6720.070New
Total2,231,543100.00630
Valid votes2,231,54398.75
Invalid/blank votes28,3601.25
Total votes2,259,903100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,849,48679.31
Source: Election Resources

Free State

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress827,33881.78250
Democratic Alliance85,7148.473+1
Freedom Front Plus24,9462.4710
African Christian Democratic Party13,1191.301+1
Pan Africanist Congress11,9691.1800
Dikwankwetla Party9,8060.970New
United Democratic Movement8,9470.8800
New National Party8,2950.820−2
United Christian Democratic Party7,8250.7700
Independent Democrats5,2890.520New
Azanian People's Organisation3,5710.350New
Inkatha Freedom Party3,5630.3500
National Action1,2240.120New
Total1,011,606100.00300
Valid votes1,011,60698.46
Invalid/blank votes15,7951.54
Total votes1,027,401100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,321,19577.76
Source: Election Resources

Gauteng

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress2,331,12168.4051+1
Democratic Alliance708,08120.7815+2
Inkatha Freedom Party85,5002.512−1
African Christian Democratic Party55,9911.6410
Independent Democrats51,9211.521New
Freedom Front Plus45,6481.3410
United Democratic Movement33,6440.9910
Pan Africanist Congress29,0760.851+1
New National Party25,9920.760−3
United Christian Democratic Party8,8570.2600
Azanian People's Organisation8,6700.2500
Christian Democratic Party7,7730.230New
National Action4,7120.140New
Peace and Justice Congress3,2080.090New
Socialist Party of Azania3,1910.0900
Economic Freedom Movement1,8620.050New
Pro-Death Penalty Party1,8250.050New
Black People's Convention1,2360.040New
Total3,408,308100.00730
Valid votes3,408,30898.73
Invalid/blank votes43,9171.27
Total votes3,452,225100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,650,59474.23
Source: Election Resources

KwaZulu-Natal

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress1,287,82346.9838+6
Inkatha Freedom Party1,009,26736.8230−4
Democratic Alliance228,8578.357+1
Minority Front71,5402.6120
African Christian Democratic Party48,8921.782+1
United Democratic Movement20,5460.7510
New National Party14,2180.520−3
Independent Democrats13,5560.490New
Freedom Front Plus7,7640.2800
Azanian People's Organisation7,0610.2600
Pan Africanist Congress5,1180.1900
Socialist Party of Azania5,0230.1800
Christian Democratic Party4,9800.180New
Izwi Lethu Party4,8580.180New
United Christian Democratic Party3,9210.140New
Peace and Development Party3,1540.120New
Royal Loyal Progress3,1410.110New
Independent African Movement1,5460.060New
Total2,741,265100.00800
Valid votes2,741,26598.52
Invalid/blank votes41,3001.48
Total votes2,782,565100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,819,86472.84
Source: Election Resources

Limpopo

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress1,439,85389.1845+1
Democratic Alliance57,9303.592+1
United Democratic Movement27,7801.7210
African Christian Democratic Party20,4181.2610
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania15,2220.940−1
Alliance for Democracy and Prosperity9,9330.620New
Freedom Front Plus9,7240.6000
Ximoko Party9,5870.5900
Azanian People's Organisation8,2040.5100
New National Party7,4430.460−1
United Christian Democratic Party3,4770.220New
Independent Democrats2,7300.170New
National Action2,2130.140New
Total1,614,514100.00490
Valid votes1,614,51498.66
Invalid/blank votes21,9471.34
Total votes1,636,461100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,187,91274.80
Source: Election Resources

Mpumalanga

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress959,43686.3027+1
Democratic Alliance77,1196.942+1
Freedom Front Plus13,7321.2410
African Christian Democratic Party12,0651.0900
United Democratic Movement11,1611.000−1
Inkatha Freedom Party10,6430.9600
Pan Africanist Congress7,6680.6900
Sindawonye Progressive Party5,9250.5300
New National Party5,1220.460−1
Independent Democrats3,4060.310New
Azanian People's Organisation2,1130.1900
United Christian Democratic Party1,8780.1700
Socialist Party of Azania1,4240.130New
Total1,111,692100.00300
Valid votes1,111,69298.42
Invalid/blank votes17,7921.58
Total votes1,129,484100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,442,47278.30
Source: Election Resources

North West

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress1,048,08980.71270
United Christian Democratic Party110,2338.4930
Democratic Alliance64,9255.002+1
Freedom Front Plus17,1231.3210
African Christian Democratic Party15,1381.1700
United Democratic Movement12,5130.9600
Pan Africanist Congress10,9230.8400
Independent Democrats5,7090.440New
New National Party5,5920.430−1
Azanian People's Organisation3,7180.290New
Inkatha Freedom Party3,2110.2500
National Action1,3890.110New
Total1,298,563100.00330
Valid votes1,298,56398.24
Invalid/blank votes23,2241.76
Total votes1,321,787100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,749,52975.55
Source: Election Resources

Northern Cape

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress219,36568.8321+1
Democratic Alliance35,29711.083+2
New National Party23,9707.522−6
Independent Democrats22,4857.062New
African Christian Democratic Party5,9951.881+1
Freedom Front Plus4,9481.5510
Azanian People's Organisation1,6450.5200
United Democratic Movement1,4310.4500
Pan Africanist Congress1,3810.4300
United Christian Democratic Party1,0420.330New
Inkatha Freedom Party7510.2400
Cape People's Congress3920.120New
Total318,702100.00300
Valid votes318,70298.40
Invalid/blank votes5,1921.60
Total votes323,894100.00
Registered voters/turnout433,59174.70
Source: Election Resources

Western Cape

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
African National Congress709,05245.2519+1
Democratic Alliance424,83227.1112+7
New National Party170,46910.885−12
Independent Democrats122,8677.843New
African Christian Democratic Party53,9343.442+1
United Democratic Movement27,4891.7510
Africa Muslim Party11,0190.700New
New Labour Party10,5260.670New
Freedom Front Plus9,7050.6200
Pan Africanist Congress6,5240.4200
United Christian Democratic Party3,5750.230New
Green Party of South Africa3,3170.210New
Peace and Justice Congress3,2780.210New
National Action2,2480.140New
Inkatha Freedom Party2,2220.1400
Cape People's Congress1,9600.130New
Azanian People's Organisation1,4550.090New
Moderate Independent Party9530.060New
Peace and Development Party7890.050New
Universal Party7350.050New
Total1,566,949100.00420
Valid votes1,566,94999.02
Invalid/blank votes15,5540.98
Total votes1,582,503100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,220,28371.27
Source: Election Resources

NCOP seats

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) consists of 90 members, ten elected by each provincial legislature. The Members of NCOP have to be elected in proportion to the party membership of the provincial legislature.

Determination of delegates to the National Council of Provinces after the 14 April 2004 provincial elections[14]
Party Delegate type EC FS G KZN L M NW NC WC Total
ANC Permanent 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 2 35 65
Special 4 4 3 2 4 4 4 3 2 30
Democratic Alliance Permanent 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 10 12
Special 1 1 2
IFP Permanent 1 2 3 5
Special 2 2
ID Permanent 1 1 2
Special 1 1
NNP Permanent 1 1 2
ACDP Special 1 1
FF Plus Permanent 1 1
United Christian Democratic Party Permanent 1 1
UDM Permanent 1 1
Total 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 90

Notes to the tables

    References

    1. "Election Resources on the Internet: Republic of South Africa 2004 General Election". Election Resources on the Internet. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
    2. "How Parliament is Constructed". Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
    3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    4. McKinley, Dale T. (29 April 2004). "South Africa: A disillusioned democracy". Green Left Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 September 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    5. "ANC wins South African elections in low voter turnout". wsws.org. 17 April 2004.
    6. "The 'No Land, No House, No Vote' campaign still on for 2009". Abahlali baseMjondolo. 5 May 2005.
    7. "IndyMedia Presents: No Land! No House! No Vote!". Anti-Eviction Campaign. 12 December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009.
    8. Southall, Roger (2005). "The 'dominant party debate' in South Africa" (PDF). Afrika Spectrum. 39: 61–82.
    9. Alence, Rod. "South Africa After Apartheid: The First Decade". Journal of Democracy. p. 82. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
    10. "PetroSA still hurting after Oilgate taint". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
    11. "South Africa to investigate 'Oilgate' scandal". gulfnews.com. 4 June 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
    12. "Court gag on South Africa 'oilgate' report". the Guardian. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
    13. "ACDP awarded an extra seat in parliament". IOL. 1 June 2004.
    14. John Kane-Berman; et al. (2004). South Africa Survey 2003/04. South African Institute of Race Relations. p. 462. ISBN 9780869824764.
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