From solo to duo: but who will call shotgun?

GEORGE NEWS - No one political party will govern South Africa alone. In the next two weeks a lot of negotiations will take place while the nation holds its breath to see what unfolds.

The first sitting of the National Assembly must occur within 14 days after the declaration of the national election results.

The Chief Justice of the Republic, Raymond Zondo, will determine and gazette the date for this sitting, when the president will be elected. The 2024 national election marks the seventh since South Africa's democracy in 1994, and the first time in 30 years that the ANC has lost its electoral majority.

The stats of the top four parties are as follows: ANC 40,2% DA 21,8% MK 14,6 % EFF 9,5%.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Parliament is fully prepared, and all the necessary arrangements have been made for establishing the new National Assembly.

"Comprehensive plans are in place to ensure a seamless transition, including onboarding new members of parliament," said Mothapo.

Every five years South Africans have the opportunity to cast their votes for a new parliament. The elections of 1994 marks the first democratic parliament.

On Wednesday 29 May, South Africans cast their votes in the country's seventh democratic election to determine which political parties and, for the first time, independent candi-dates, will represent them in parliament and the provincial legislatures.

Nice to know

The voter turnout for the 2024 national election has been the worst of all seven elections since 1994. With a voter turnout of 59%, a whopping 41% of voters stayed at home.
Nationally the DA managed just under 22% of the vote, but in the Western Cape it took an outright majority with more than 55%.
On a national level the DA grew support of 1% (20,8% to 21,8%) since the last election in 2019, while the ANC's support dropped with 17,3% (57,5% to 40,2%).
Winning support: MK came in fresh with 14,6%, while IFP grew support of 0,5% (3,4% to 3,9%). The PA received 2,1% support.
Losing support: EFF dropped with 1,3% (10,8% to 9,5%). FF Plus dropped half of their support, from 2,4% to 1,2%.

This meme had people smiling. The couple looks quite in love.