The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will today reveal the names of candidates submitted by political parties and independent candidates wishing to contest the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The Commission says following the cut-off date for objections on published candidate lists on Wednesday, 27 March, it will announce its decision after reviewing all objections received.
“In all, 14 662 candidates have been nominated to contest the 887 seats available in the National Assembly and the nine legislatures. The spread of the candidates is as follows: 4 323 candidates have been nominated to contest the compensatory seats in the National,” the IEC said.
Below we profile the number one ranked individuals from the top 5 biggest parties in South Africa currently.
‘WE’VE COME A LONG AWAY, WE MUST STICK TOGETHER,’ SAYS RAMAPHOSA
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says speeding up transformation and improving the lives of the people by tackling the high cost of living, are some of the ruling party’s main priorities ahead and beyond the May elections.
Ramaphosa says at the same time, there were forces that seek to use this election to undo the ANC from power in order to maintain the Status quo, where the rich get richer and the poorer become even more poor.
“Our country has come a long way. We have made incredible strides and achieved so much. However, even after 30 years of freedom and democracy, our journey towards the South Africa that our people truly desire is far from over. We still have more
hills to climb,” Ramaphosa said in the ANC’s election manifesto for the 2024 general elections.
“In the 2024 elections, we will therefore go beyond celebrating accomplishments. We learn from the past, from mistakes and setbacks, as we learn from achievements,” he said.
THE WIN-WIN PROPOSITION OF THE DA
Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) John Steenhuisen says the DA believes that it has the right plan, the right people, and the “on-the-ground experience” to anchor South Africa’s first multi-party national government.
“In this election – with its new binary choice between a multi-party government anchored by the DA or a Doomsday Coalition – the stakes are too high to stay at home, says Steenhuisen.
“On the 29th of May, South Africa will either emerge into a dreadful reality controlled by Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma, or it will embark down a new path laid out by the DA,” he added.
Steenhuisen saida vote for the DA is a win-win-win proposition. “A vote for the DA is a vote against a national ANC/EFF/MK Doomsday Coalition,” he said.
LANDLESSNESS AND JOBLESSNESS MAIN CHALLENGE, SAYS MALEMA
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says landlessness and joblessness among black South Africans was at crisis levels, posing the biggest challenges that confront South African society today.
“South Africa is trapped in a vicious cycle of underdevelopment, underperformance and an unpredictable future due to incompetent, directionless, and visionless government,” says Malema in the party’s 2024 election manifesto.
“In 2024, South Africa is confronted with a crisis of load shedding caused by a government that is unable to guarantee dependable and reliable electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to the entire society,” he said.
‘LOAD SHEDDING WOULD BE A THING OF THE PAST’ – SAYS IFP
“When the IFP is given an opportunity load shedding will be a thing of the past. We will not behave like a member of the ruling party in the Sona who said load shedding is not the end of the world,” said Velenkosini Hlabisa the leader of Inkatha Freedom Party.
He said the police had lost control of the streets and criminals were terrorising communities. Hlabisa said the state must take measures to fight crime and win back the streets.
“Crime is devastating our communities. Our women and children cannot go freely and safe in our streets. Load shedding has destroyed our economy to a point of collapse. The cost of living keeps going up, increasing fuel prices push up the cost of food and transport, Hlabisa said during the party’s manifesto launch in Durban.
RESTORE AND REBUILD SOUTH AFRICA – FF PLUS
The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) says its 2024 elections manifesto offers a realistic plan and a message of hope for the future.
“The journey will start at the polls on 29 May this year. The main message is that it is possible to restore and rebuild South Africa,” says Pieter Groenewald, the leader of the party.
He said the FF Plus’s Manifesto is a building plan offering viable solutions for building a better future.
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