The election of a president is a pivotal moment in a country’s democratic process, embodying the will of the people and shaping the nation’s political and socioeconomic trajectory. Understanding how a President is elected is crucial for participating in a country’s electoral process as voters, observers and interested parties.
Unlike the majoritarian electoral system (where the Presidential candidate with the most votes cast by the public takes the seat using the winner-takes-all principle), most commonly used in Southern Africa, in The Comoros, DRC, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, electing the President in South Africa (like Botswana, Mauritius and Lesotho) is not as straightforward as a person ticking a box in the voting booth for a Presidential candidate, nor is it as simple as the most popular candidate ascending to the seat. Voters in South Africa do not directly elect their president, the President is elected by Parliament.
South Africa is a representative democracy based on a parliamentary system. The Parliament comprises two houses, the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly (400 seats).
National and provincial elections are held every five (5) years, with voters casting ballots, for the National Assembly and Provincial Legislature. Ballots are cast for political parties and/or independents, from which members for the National Assembly will be elected through party lists submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission ahead of the election.
In the South African parliamentary system the National Assembly at its first meeting after the general elections (scheduled for 27 May 2024) nominates a member/s of the National Assembly to stand for election for the Presidency of South Africa. Where only one candidate is nominated the nominee shall be declared duly elected, however where more than one Member of the National Assembly is nominated, an election will be held in Parliament with the nominee receiving the majority of votes of members present (a total of 400 members will be eligible to vote, so majority will possibly be 201 votes) elected as President of South Africa. In the event that no candidate receives an absolute majority of the votes in the first round, a second round of voting is held between the two candidates with the most votes. The candidate who garners the most votes in the second round will be declared President.
The presidential election process underscores the importance of political affiliation and coalitions within South Africa’s parliamentary democracy. To be elected as president, a candidate must secure the support of at least half of the members present and voting in the National Assembly. This requirement emphasises the need for broad consensus and ensures that the president-elect enjoys substantial parliamentary backing. Party allegiance and coalitions will play a significant role where a political party is unable to secure a majority of the seats in parliament. The electoral system used to elect the President in South Africa seeks to ensure that the president remains accountable to the National Assembly, which can remove them from office through a motion of no-confidence or an impeachment trial. Impeachment or motions of no confidence have not been successfully used to remove a sitting President in democratic South Africa.
The President of South Africa will serve a five-year term expiring in 2029 and will shape the nation’s new political landscape.
