‘Historic’ 2024 elections officially launched

The Electoral Commission of South Africa on Tuesday officially launched the 2024 general elections, declaring it is ready to host millions of eligible voters at its 23 296 polling stations nationwide.

According to the commission, next year’s national and provincial elections (NPE) will be historic as independent candidates will, for the first time, be able to stand.

Tuesday’s launch was led by commission chairperson Mosotho Moepya and chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, and attended by various stakeholders, including political parties.

“Today, we stand proud as the pre-eminent constitutionally-mandated body that manages elections and makes bold that we are ready for the NPE 2024,” said Mamabolo.

He explained that, while the term of office of the current legislatures, both national and provincial, ends around 18 May 2024, the respective governments would remain in office until the newly-elected public representatives are able to take office.

Mamabolo said that, in terms of the Constitution, the country must have an election within 90 days of the expiry of the legislatures’ terms.

“Therefore, an election is possible between May and the middle of August 2024. The proclamation of the election date is by our head of state after consultation with the Electoral Commission.

“Our expectation is that the provincial elections will, as they have for the last 30 years, be synchronised with the national election,” he added.

Mamabolo said that once the Electoral Amendment Act was signed into law by the president, the commission would move with deliberate speed to finalise the supporting business applications necessary for the implementation of the Act.

The commission further reiterated its commitment to open 23 296 voting stations for the weekend of 18 and 19 November 2023 for the first voter registration campaign.

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