Ipsos study reveals voter alienation, low municipal trust, and a mixed appetite for polls as 2026/7 elections approach – regardless of a choice of more than 500 parties
Currently, over a third (35%) of registered South African voters feel that no political party fully aligns with their views and opinions. This sentiment poses a significant challenge for voters as they grapple with their party choices in the upcoming national and provincial elections.
Looking at possible turnout scenarios, a lower voter turnout is definitely to the benefit of the ANC, as reported in previous Ipsos press releases about this topic. In fact, turnout will probably be the key variable in the election on 29 May 2024.
As South Africa approaches the 2024 national and provincial elections, the nation finds itself at a crossroads. With voter discontent on the rise, shifting political alliances, and the historic inclusion of independent candidates, the uncertainty and desire for change that define the current landscape harken back to the pivotal 1994 elections, making this a crucial moment for South Africans to shape their country's future yet again.
The year 2024 is notable for the large number of national elections planned worldwide. Seven out of the ten most populous countries will go to the polls during this year, namely Bangladesh, India, United States of America, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, and Mexico, with the result that almost half of the world’s inhabitants will have the opportunity to play a role in selecting the leadership of their countries going forward.
With the next national election closing in on the two-year countdown mark, it seems as if the ANC is now firmly establishing itself in the “less than 50% of the vote” category, while all other political parties have a lot of work to do to impress voters to turn out and draw a cross next to their names in 2024.
In the middle of the shortened and compressed election campaign for the local government elections, less than a fifth (18%) of adult South Africans indicated that they think the country is going in the right direction.
