2004 South African general election Turnout 76.70%
First party
Second party
Third party
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[a]
8.58%, 34 seats
Seats won
279
50
28
Seat change
13
12
6
Popular vote
10,880,915
1,931,201
1,088,664
Percentage
69.69%
12.37%
6.97%
Swing
3.34%
2.81%
1.61%
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
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
5
New
21
Popular vote
355,717
269,765
257,842
Percentage
2.28%
1.73%
1.65%
Swing
1.14%
New
5.22%
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.
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]
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 , possibly losing some support to Patricia de Lille 's new Independent Democrats . The New National Party, 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 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 .
National Assembly results [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 10,880,915 69.69 279 +13 Democratic Alliance 1,931,201 12.37 50 +12 Inkatha Freedom Party 1,088,664 6.97 28 −6 United Democratic Movement 355,717 2.28 9 −5 Independent Democrats 269,765 1.73 7 New New National Party 257,824 1.65 7 −21 African Christian Democratic Party 250,272 1.60 7 +1 Freedom Front Plus 139,465 0.89 4 0 United Christian Democratic Party 117,792 0.75 3 0 Pan Africanist Congress 113,512 0.73 3 0 Minority Front 55,267 0.35 2 +1 Azanian People's Organisation 39,116 0.25 1 0 Christian Democratic Party 17,619 0.11 0 New National Action 15,804 0.10 0 New Peace and Justice Congress 15,187 0.10 0 New Socialist Party of Azania 14,853 0.10 0 0 New Labour Party 13,318 0.09 0 New United Front 11,889 0.08 0 New Employment Movement for South Africa 10,446 0.07 0 New The Organisation Party 7,531 0.05 0 New Keep It Straight and Simple Party 6,514 0.04 0 0 Total 15,612,671 100.00 400 0 Valid votes 15,612,671 98.42 Invalid/blank votes 250,887 1.58 Total votes 15,863,558 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 20,674,926 76.73 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.[8]
Provincial legislature results [ ]
Elections for the nine provincial parliaments were held at the same time as for the National Assembly.
Eastern Cape [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 1,768,987 79.27 51 +4 United Democratic Movement 205,993 9.23 6 −3 Democratic Alliance 163,785 7.34 5 +1 Pan Africanist Congress 22,324 1.00 1 0 African Christian Democratic Party 17,372 0.78 0 0 Independent Democrats 17,314 0.78 0 New New National Party 14,084 0.63 0 −2 Freedom Front Plus 5,692 0.26 0 0 Inkatha Freedom Party 4,373 0.20 0 0 Azanian People's Organisation 3,884 0.17 0 New Socialist Party of Azania 3,356 0.15 0 New United Christian Democratic Party 2,707 0.12 0 New National Action 1,672 0.07 0 New Total 2,231,543 100.00 63 0 Valid votes 2,231,543 98.75 Invalid/blank votes 28,360 1.25 Total votes 2,259,903 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 2,849,486 79.31 Source: Election Resources
Free State [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 827,338 81.78 25 0 Democratic Alliance 85,714 8.47 3 +1 Freedom Front Plus 24,946 2.47 1 0 African Christian Democratic Party 13,119 1.30 1 +1 Pan Africanist Congress 11,969 1.18 0 0 Dikwankwetla Party 9,806 0.97 0 New United Democratic Movement 8,947 0.88 0 0 New National Party 8,295 0.82 0 −2 United Christian Democratic Party 7,825 0.77 0 0 Independent Democrats 5,289 0.52 0 New Azanian People's Organisation 3,571 0.35 0 New Inkatha Freedom Party 3,563 0.35 0 0 National Action 1,224 0.12 0 New Total 1,011,606 100.00 30 0 Valid votes 1,011,606 98.46 Invalid/blank votes 15,795 1.54 Total votes 1,027,401 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 1,321,195 77.76 Source: Election Resources
Gauteng [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 2,331,121 68.40 51 +1 Democratic Alliance 708,081 20.78 15 +2 Inkatha Freedom Party 85,500 2.51 2 −1 African Christian Democratic Party 55,991 1.64 1 0 Independent Democrats 51,921 1.52 1 New Freedom Front Plus 45,648 1.34 1 0 United Democratic Movement 33,644 0.99 1 0 Pan Africanist Congress 29,076 0.85 1 +1 New National Party 25,992 0.76 0 −3 United Christian Democratic Party 8,857 0.26 0 0 Azanian People's Organisation 8,670 0.25 0 0 Christian Democratic Party 7,773 0.23 0 New National Action 4,712 0.14 0 New Peace and Justice Congress 3,208 0.09 0 New Socialist Party of Azania 3,191 0.09 0 0 Economic Freedom Movement 1,862 0.05 0 New Pro-Death Penalty Party 1,825 0.05 0 New Black People's Convention 1,236 0.04 0 New Total 3,408,308 100.00 73 0 Valid votes 3,408,308 98.73 Invalid/blank votes 43,917 1.27 Total votes 3,452,225 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 4,650,594 74.23 Source: Election Resources
KwaZulu-Natal [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 1,287,823 46.98 38 +6 Inkatha Freedom Party 1,009,267 36.82 30 −4 Democratic Alliance 228,857 8.35 7 +1 Minority Front 71,540 2.61 2 0 African Christian Democratic Party 48,892 1.78 2 +1 United Democratic Movement 20,546 0.75 1 0 New National Party 14,218 0.52 0 −3 Independent Democrats 13,556 0.49 0 New Freedom Front Plus 7,764 0.28 0 0 Azanian People's Organisation 7,061 0.26 0 0 Pan Africanist Congress 5,118 0.19 0 0 Socialist Party of Azania 5,023 0.18 0 0 Christian Democratic Party 4,980 0.18 0 New Izwi Lethu Party 4,858 0.18 0 New United Christian Democratic Party 3,921 0.14 0 New Peace and Development Party 3,154 0.12 0 New Royal Loyal Progress 3,141 0.11 0 New Independent African Movement 1,546 0.06 0 New Total 2,741,265 100.00 80 0 Valid votes 2,741,265 98.52 Invalid/blank votes 41,300 1.48 Total votes 2,782,565 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 3,819,864 72.84 Source: Election Resources
Limpopo [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 1,439,853 89.18 45 +1 Democratic Alliance 57,930 3.59 2 +1 United Democratic Movement 27,780 1.72 1 0 African Christian Democratic Party 20,418 1.26 1 0 Pan Africanist Congress of Azania 15,222 0.94 0 −1 Alliance for Democracy and Prosperity 9,933 0.62 0 New Freedom Front Plus 9,724 0.60 0 0 Ximoko Party 9,587 0.59 0 0 Azanian People's Organisation 8,204 0.51 0 0 New National Party 7,443 0.46 0 −1 United Christian Democratic Party 3,477 0.22 0 New Independent Democrats 2,730 0.17 0 New National Action 2,213 0.14 0 New Total 1,614,514 100.00 49 0 Valid votes 1,614,514 98.66 Invalid/blank votes 21,947 1.34 Total votes 1,636,461 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 2,187,912 74.80 Source: Election Resources
Mpumalanga [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 959,436 86.30 27 +1 Democratic Alliance 77,119 6.94 2 +1 Freedom Front Plus 13,732 1.24 1 0 African Christian Democratic Party 12,065 1.09 0 0 United Democratic Movement 11,161 1.00 0 −1 Inkatha Freedom Party 10,643 0.96 0 0 Pan Africanist Congress 7,668 0.69 0 0 Sindawonye Progressive Party 5,925 0.53 0 0 New National Party 5,122 0.46 0 −1 Independent Democrats 3,406 0.31 0 New Azanian People's Organisation 2,113 0.19 0 0 United Christian Democratic Party 1,878 0.17 0 0 Socialist Party of Azania 1,424 0.13 0 New Total 1,111,692 100.00 30 0 Valid votes 1,111,692 98.42 Invalid/blank votes 17,792 1.58 Total votes 1,129,484 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 1,442,472 78.30 Source: Election Resources
North West [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 1,048,089 80.71 27 0 United Christian Democratic Party 110,233 8.49 3 0 Democratic Alliance 64,925 5.00 2 +1 Freedom Front Plus 17,123 1.32 1 0 African Christian Democratic Party 15,138 1.17 0 0 United Democratic Movement 12,513 0.96 0 0 Pan Africanist Congress 10,923 0.84 0 0 Independent Democrats 5,709 0.44 0 New New National Party 5,592 0.43 0 −1 Azanian People's Organisation 3,718 0.29 0 New Inkatha Freedom Party 3,211 0.25 0 0 National Action 1,389 0.11 0 New Total 1,298,563 100.00 33 0 Valid votes 1,298,563 98.24 Invalid/blank votes 23,224 1.76 Total votes 1,321,787 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 1,749,529 75.55 Source: Election Resources
Northern Cape [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 219,365 68.83 21 +1 Democratic Alliance 35,297 11.08 3 +2 New National Party 23,970 7.52 2 −6 Independent Democrats 22,485 7.06 2 New African Christian Democratic Party 5,995 1.88 1 +1 Freedom Front Plus 4,948 1.55 1 0 Azanian People's Organisation 1,645 0.52 0 0 United Democratic Movement 1,431 0.45 0 0 Pan Africanist Congress 1,381 0.43 0 0 United Christian Democratic Party 1,042 0.33 0 New Inkatha Freedom Party 751 0.24 0 0 Cape People's Congress 392 0.12 0 New Total 318,702 100.00 30 0 Valid votes 318,702 98.40 Invalid/blank votes 5,192 1.60 Total votes 323,894 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 433,591 74.70 Source: Election Resources
Western Cape [ ]
Party Votes % Seats +/– African National Congress 709,052 45.25 19 +1 Democratic Alliance 424,832 27.11 12 +7 New National Party 170,469 10.88 5 −12 Independent Democrats 122,867 7.84 3 New African Christian Democratic Party 53,934 3.44 2 +1 United Democratic Movement 27,489 1.75 1 0 Africa Muslim Party 11,019 0.70 0 New New Labour Party 10,526 0.67 0 New Freedom Front Plus 9,705 0.62 0 0 Pan Africanist Congress 6,524 0.42 0 0 United Christian Democratic Party 3,575 0.23 0 New Green Party of South Africa 3,317 0.21 0 New Peace and Justice Congress 3,278 0.21 0 New National Action 2,248 0.14 0 New Inkatha Freedom Party 2,222 0.14 0 0 Cape People's Congress 1,960 0.13 0 New Azanian People's Organisation 1,455 0.09 0 New Moderate Independent Party 953 0.06 0 New Peace and Development Party 789 0.05 0 New Universal Party 735 0.05 0 New Total 1,566,949 100.00 42 0 Valid votes 1,566,949 99.02 Invalid/blank votes 15,554 0.98 Total votes 1,582,503 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 2,220,283 71.27 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.
Notes to the tables [ ]
References [ ]
External links [ ]