AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
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Elections in South Africa
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Thabo Mbeki (ANC) [since 16 June 1999; elected 1999, re-elected 2004] The President is elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term.
Parliament [bicameral]
--National Council of Provinces (90 Seats) 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms.
--National Assembly (400 Seats) Members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms. Electoral System: Party-List Proportional Representation.
Political Situation since Independence
1910-1990 Democracy [Whites], Restricted Democratic Practice [Minorities]
1990-1994 Transition to Multiracial Rule
1994-        Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 2, Civil Liberties - 2, Status: Free
Next Scheduled National Council of the Provinces Election: 2009
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2009
Political Parties
-Pre-Apartheid Era: AP - Afrikaner Party, HRP - Home Rule Party, NP - National Party, RP - Roos Party, SALP - South African Labour Party, SAP - South African Party, SP - Socialist Party, UP - Unionist Party, UP - United Party.
-Apartheid Era: White (European) Parties: CP - Conservative Party (far-right), DP - Democratic Party, HNP - Herstigte [Reconstituted] National Party (far-right), NRP - New Republic Party (centrist), NP - National Party (right-wing), NU - National Union, PFP - Progressive Federal Party (center-left), PP - Progressive Party, SAP South African Party, UP - United Party; Coloured Parties: CP - Conservative Party, DRP - Democratic Reform Party, FP - Federal Party, FP - Freedom Party, LP - Labour Party, NPP - National People’s Party, PCP - People’s Congress Party, RP - Republican Party, UDP - United Democratic Party; Indian Parties: DP - Democratic Party, MPP - Merit People’s Party, NFP - National Federal Party, NPP - National People’s Party, PIP - Progressive Independent Party, PPSA - People’s Party of South Africa, SOL - Solidarity, UP - United Party.
-Post-Apartheid Era: ACDP - African Christian Democratic Party (christian, conservative), ADM - African Democratic Movement, AEB - Afrikaner EenheidsBeweging [Afrikaner Unity Movement] (far-right), AITUP - Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party, AMCP - African Moderates Congress Party, AMP - Africa Muslim Party, ANC - African National Congress (far-left, socialist), AZAPO - Azanian People’s Organisation (far-left, socialist), CDP - Christian Democratic Party, DA - Democratic Alliance (liberal), DP - Democratic Party (center-left), DPSA - Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa, EMSA - Employment Movement for South Africa, FA - Federal Alliance (centrist), FP - Federal Party, GPGP - Government by the People Green Party, ID - Independent Democrats (center-left), IFP - Inkatha Freedom Party (right-wing, conservative), KISS - Keep it Straight and Simple Party, LUSO - Luso-South African Party, MF - Minority Front , NA - National Action, NLP - New Labour Party, NNP - New National Party (right-wing, conservative), NP - National Party (right-wing, conservative), PAC - Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (far-left), PJC - Peace and Justice Congress, SOCCER - Sport Organisation for Collective Contributions and Equal Rights, SOPA - Socialist Party of Azania, TOP - The Organisation Party, UCDP - United Christian Democratic Party (right-wing, christian democratic), UDM - United Democratic Movement (centrist), UF - United Front, VF/FF - Vryheidsfront/Freedom Front (right-wing), VF+/FF+ - Vryheidsfront Plus/Freedom Front Plus (right-wing), WLP - Workers' List Party, WRPP - Women's Rights Peace Party, XPP - Ximoko Progressive Party.
Coalitions: National Party-South African Labour Party (NP-SALP) [Contested 1924 & 1933 House of Assembly Election]; National Party-Afrikaner Party (NP-AP) [Contested 1948 House of Assembly Election]; South African Party-Unionist Party (SAP-UP) [Contested 1924 House of Assembly Election]
 
Election Results (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
 
 
Pre-Apartheid Era [1910-1948] Legislative Elections: 1910, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1943, 1948
Apartheid Era [1948-1990] Legislative Elections
--"Whites-only": 1953, 1958, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1989
--"Coloureds-only": 1969, 1975, 1984, 1989
--"Indians-only": 1981, 1984, 1989
Post Apartheid Era [1990-Present] Legislative Elections
--National Assembly: 1994, 1999, 2004
--National Council of Provinces: 1994, 1999, 2004
Referenda
--National: 1960, 1983, 1992
--Sub-National: 1909
Provincial Assembly: 1994, 1999, 2004
 
 
Pre-Apartheid Era (1910-1948)
 
15 September 1910 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

105,623 (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (121)

South African Party (SAP)

66

Unionist Party (UP)

38

South African Labour Party (SALP)

04

Independents

13

 
October 1915 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

365,307

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

261,433 (71.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,330

Total Valid Votes

257,103

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (130)

South African Party (SAP)

94,285

36.67%

54

National Party (NP)

75,623

29.41%

27

Unionist Party (UP)

49,917

19.42%

40

South African Labour Party (SALP)

24,755

9.63%

03

Socialist Party (SP)

140

0.05%

-

Independents

12,383

4.82%

06
 
20 March 1920 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

421,790

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

282,361 (66.9%)

Party

Number of Seats (134)

National Party (NP)

43

South African Party (SAP)

41

Unionist Party (UP)

25

South African Labour Party (SALP)

21

Socialist Party (SP)

-

Independents

03

Vacant*

01

*The vacant seat was later won by the National Party (NP).
 
February 1921 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

499,531

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

277,742 (55.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

275,219

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (130)

South African Party (SAP)

137,389

49.92%

77

National Party (NP)

105,039

38.17%

44

South African Labour Party (SALP)

29,406

10.68%

10

Independents

3,385

1.23%

01

Vacant

-

-

02

 
19 June 1924 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

413,136

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

319,047 (77.2%)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Seats (134)

National Party-South African Labour Party [NP-SALP]

81

 

National Party (NP)

  

63

South African Labour Party (SALP)

18

South African Party-Unionist Party (SAP-UP)

53

 
14 June 1929 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

461,820

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

347,924 (75.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

343,897

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (150)

National Party (NP)

141,579

41.17%

77

South African Party (SAP)

159,896

46.50%

61

South African Labour Party (SALP)

33,919

9.86%

08

Independents

8,503

2.47%

01

Vacant*

-

-

01

*The vacant seat was later won by the National Party (NP).
 
May 1933 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

957,636

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

323,417 (33.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    3,406

Total Valid Votes

320,011

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (150)

National Party (NP)

101,159

31.61%

75

South African Party (SAP)

71,486

22.34%

61

South African Labour Party (SALP)

20,276

6.34%

04

Roos Party (RP)

27,441

8.58%

02

Home Rule Party (HRP)

12,328

3.85%

02

Independents

87,321

27.29%

06

 
18 May 1938 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

1,052,652

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   835,378 (79.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       6,481

Total Valid Votes

   828,897

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (150)*

United Party (UP)

446,032

53.81%

111

Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party (GNP)**

259,543

31.31%

27

Dominion Party (DP)

52,356

6.32%

08

South African Labour Party (SALP)

48,641

5.87%

03

Socialist Party (SP)

4,963

0.60%

01

Independents

17,362

2.09%

-

*The House of Assembly had a total of 153 members, 150 of whom were directly elected, with 3 reserved for ‘Native’ Representatives - White members elected by African voters in Cape Province.
**Also known as the Purified National Party.
 
17 July 1943 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

1,114,110

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   885,623 (79.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       9,360

Total Valid Votes

   876,263

Party/Coalition

Number of Seats (150)*

United Party-led Coalition

107

 

United Party (UP)

  

89

South African Labour Party (SALP)

09

Dominion Party (DP)

07

Independents

02

Herenigde Nasionale Party (HNP)**

43

Socialist Party (SP)

-

*The House of Assembly had a total of 153 members, 150 of whom were directly elected, with 3 reserved for ‘Native’ Representatives - White members elected by African voters in Cape Province.
**Also known as the Re-united National Party.
 
26 May 1948 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

1,337,534

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,073,364 (80.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       7,393

Total Valid Votes

1,065,971

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (150)*

Herenigde Nasionale Party-Afrikaner Party [HNP-AP]

443,719

41.63%

79

 

Herenigde Nasionale Party (HNP)**

(401,834)

(37.70%)

  

70

Afrikaner Party (AP)

(41,885)

(3.93%)

09

United Party (UP)

524,230

49.18%

65

South African Labour Party (SALP)

27,360

2.57%

06

Others

70,662

6.63%

-

*The House of Assembly had a total of 153 members, 150 of whom were directly elected, with 3 reserved for ‘Native’ Representatives - White members elected by African voters in the Cape Province.
**Also known as the Re-united National Party; The party renamed itself the National Party (NP) soon after the election.
 
Apartheid Era 1948-1990
 
"Whites Only" Elections
 
15 April 1953 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]
The National Party (NP) won the election with an increased majority. No figures available.
 
16 April 1958 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

Number of Seats (156)

National Party (NP)

103

United Party (UP)

53

 
05 October 1960 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Declaration of the Republic
Registered Voters   1,800,426
Total Votes               N/A [Voter Turnout: 90.8%]
Invalid/Blank Votes       N/A
Total Valid Votes   1,626,336

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

850,458

52.29%

"No" Votes

775,878

47.71%

 
08 October 1961 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

Number of Seats (156)

National Party (NP)

105

United Party (UP)

49

Progressive Party (PP)

01

National Union (NU)

01

 
30 March 1966 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

Number of Seats (166)

National Party (NP)

126

United Party (UP)

39

Progressive Party (PP)

01

 
22 April 1970 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (165)

National Party (NP)

820,968

54.4%

117

United Party (UP)

561,647

37.2%

47

Herstigte Nationale Party (HNP)

-

3.5%

-

Progressive Party (PP)

51,760

3.4%

01

Others

-

1.5%

-

 
24 April 1974 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

Number of Seats (169)

National Party (NP)

122

United Party (UP)

41

Progressive Party (PP)

06

 
30 November 1977 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (165)

National Party (NP)

64.8%

134

Progressive Federal Party (PFP)

16.7%

17

New Republic Party (NRP)

12.1%

10

Herstigte Nationale Party (HNP)

3.3%

-

South African Party (SAP)

1.6%

03

Others

1.5%

01

 
29 June 1981 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (165)

National Party (NP)

53.3%

131

Progressive Federal Party (PFP)

18.2%

26

Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP)

13.1%

-

New Republic Party (NRP)

6.4%

08

Conservative Party (CP)

1.3%

-

Others

7.7%

-

 
02 November 1983 Constitutional Reform Referendum*
Main Points: Presidential Regime, Creation of a tricameral parliament - first Chamber for Whites (178 seats); the second for Coloureds (85 seats); the third for Indians (45 seats).
Registered Voters   2,713,000
Total Votes         2,062,469 [Voter Turnout: 76.0%]
Invalid/Blank Votes    10,669 
Total Valid Votes   2,051,800

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

1,360,223

66.29%

"No" Votes

691,577

33.71%

*Despite its impact on Non-White communities, only Whites were allowed to participate in the referendum. The constitutional reforms made no provision for enfranchising Black South Africans.
 
06 May 1987 House of Assembly Election
Registered Voters  N/A
Total Votes        N/A [Voter Turnout: N/A]

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (167)*

National Party (NP)

52.29%

124

Conservative Party (CP)

26.62%

22

Progressive Federal Party (PFP)

14.03%

19

Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP)

2.99%

-

New Republic Party (NRP)

1.97%

01

Others

2.10%

01

*The White Chamber of parliament had 178 members, 167 of whom were directly elected (including a seat from Walvis Bay, which was added in 1981).
 
06 September 1989 House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

3,120,104

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,167,929* (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     10,336*

Total Valid Votes

2,157,593*