Political parties have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the election date, with many highlighting that the date is long overdue.
Ramaphosa on Tuesday announced that the 2014 national and provincial elections will be held on 29 May.
The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the date, adding that it has always been ready, and this would be cemented when it launches its elections manifesto on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has said the party is also ready to challenge the ANC and the ANC to ‘bring it on.’
“Today (Tuesday) President Cyril Ramaphosa officially announced the upcoming general election scheduled for May 29. The DA welcomes this crucial announcement as a countdown to a historic moment where South Africa has the opportunity to rescue itself from 30 years of ANC failure, corruption, and state capture. The DA is fully prepared for the challenge ahead, and we are all-systems go for the May 29 date,” said Steenhuisen.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also welcomed the election date adding that they are long overdue.
“The Economic Freedom Fighters welcomes the long overdue announcement of the date for the Provincial and National elections for the year 2024, which have been announced to take place on 29th May 2024. These elections mark an opportunity for all South Africans to put an end to the misery we have suffered as a nation, under the incompetent, corrupt and misguided governance of the ruling party ANC, for 30 years. The 29th of May, officially marks an opportunity for our nation to achieve true freedom, which at the centre of it sits, Economic Freedom,” said the party in a statement.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) welcomed the date and said it stands ready for the elections.
“The IFP views 29 May 2024 as a day of freedom for the country, to finally free itself from the clutches of an ANC government that has only delivered poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment, and widespread corruption. The IFP National Campaign Committee will now streamline all our plans and programmes of action to ensure the IFP’s electoral support,” said party spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
Freedom Front Plus (FF+) said the date brings more certainty for political parties to start running their election campaigns in earnest.
“It also brings certainty to voters regarding their travel plans, among other things. Now that they know May 29 is the election date, they should keep in mind that they can only vote at the polling station where they are registered,” said party leader Dr Pieter Groenewald. ActionSA said it notes the announcement declaring itself ready to fix the country.
“Over the past two years ActionSA has built structures across all nine provinces of our country with branches now in over 45% of the wards of the country, under the leadership of credible provincial leadership. By-elections have been contested in various provinces which have revealed ActionSA’s continued growth in Gauteng. Our vote winning potential into double digits in provinces outside of urban centres and the fact that ActionSA is uniting South Africans from all communities and backgrounds,” read a statement from the party,” read a statement from ActionSA.
New kid on the block Build One South Africa also welcomed the date.
“On the 29th of May we will change the future of this country forever. Time to fire the crooks and to hire the cooks,” declared party leader Mmusi Maimane on his X account.
The proclamation to declare the date will be issued in due course.
