uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a left-wing populist party founded 6 months prior to the election and led by former president Jacob Zuma, came in third place.

[3] On 14 June 2024, the ANC, the DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), agreed to form a national unity government, with Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected President of South Africa.

In February 2021, home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi appointed a ministerial advisory committee led by Valli Moosa to recommend a new electoral system.

In provincial legislatures, the single-tier multimember proportional system will continue to apply, with political parties and independent candidates contesting for seats.

[45] Six independent candidates appeared on the national regional lists, namely Zackie Achmat, Louis Liebenberg, Anele Mda, Lovemore N'dou, Ntakadzeni Phathela, and Lehlohonolo Ramoba.

The DA is staunchly opposed to the bill on the premise that it could lead to large tax increases and corruption by ANC "cadre deployment," and have promised to challenge it in court.

Additionally, the government has not released official statistics regarding how much the NHI program would cost, raising concerns it could exacerbate South Africa's ongoing troubles providing public services such as electricity and water.

[51] Several parties such as ActionSA, IFP, ATM and PA,[52] call for tighter border controls in response to the perceived strain caused by undocumented migrants on public services and resources.

[59] In their 2024 election manifesto, the African National Congress claims that, as per the Zondo Commission's recommendations, "laws, institutions and practices are being put in place to reduce the potential for corruption of any sort and on any scale".

"[61] The Economic Freedom Fighters proposes to amend the Constitution to "make the National Prosecuting Authority a Chapter 9 institution accountable to Parliament".

[62] The ANC was also criticized for provisionally including four ministers (Zizi Kodwa, Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo, and Gwede Mantashe) who were implicated in a corruption investigation into the administration of former president Jacob Zuma on 11 March, pending the final results of an intraparty review.

The ANC has pledged to create 12.5 million new jobs, a large portion of which will be devoted to a clean energy transition and modernisation of the nation's electrical system.

[81] According to the ANC's election manifesto, the party pledges to "cultivate partnerships to expand domestic industries with significant potential to create sustainable jobs... such as energy.

[88] Action Society notes that "if the current murder trend continues, at least 31,000 people will be killed in the next 12 months...the [South African Government] has lost control..."[89] The lack of adequate housing has been a major issue.

[95] On 12 February 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that the ANC had five days to hand over their cadre deployment records to the Democratic Alliance dating back to 1 January 2013.

[103][102] In response, the Leader of the Opposition, John Steenhuisen led a delegation arguing that "the ANC is not South Africa" in an effort to lessen the risk of a possible removal from AGOA.

[103] Later, the Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde and a provincial delegation also made a trip to the United States to detail the possible impact that a loss would have on the agricultural industry in the province.

[117] The Complaints and Compliance Committee of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ruled on 24 May that the SABC be directed to desist from not airing the advert and pay a R500,000 fine within seven days.

[135] Three thousand SANDF soldiers were deployed to ensure security during the election, while the Independent Electoral Commission said two people were arrested for interfering with voting operations.

[137] Counting was delayed in several precincts due to last-minute queues of voters,[138] with the last ballots being cast at around 03:00 on 30 May as electoral law allows those still lining up to vote at regular closing time to participate.

The DA's John Steenhuisen said that the results showed that South Africa was "heading into coalition country" and expressed a willingness to work alongside the ANC, adding that he would have to first consult with other signatories of the Multi-Party Charter.

The Patriotic Alliance's Gayton McKenzie compared prospects of an ANC-DA coalition to "a marriage of two drunk people in Las Vegas" that would prove "unworkable".

[155] On 2 June, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced the official opening of negotiations,[156] adding that the party had heard the popular will and was "humbled" by the election result.

[157] In his first statement following the election later that day, Ramaphosa called on political parties to overcome their differences and find "common ground" in creating a coalition government.

[171] The session proceeded as scheduled, with the ANC's Thoko Didiza being elected parliamentary speaker after she defeated the Economic Freedom Fighters' Veronica Mente with 284 votes to 49.

[172][173][174] The same day, the National Assembly re-elected Ramaphosa as President of South Africa after defeating Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema with 283 votes to 54.

[178] On the same day, the ANC, the DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), agreed to form a national unity government, with Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected President of South Africa.

Clauses 18 and 19 of the statement deal with the concept of "sufficient consensus", which among other points, only exists when "parties to the GNU representing 60% of the seats in the National Assembly agree".

[189][190] Ntuli defeated the MK Party's premier candidate, Zulu Nation's deputy prime minister Phathisizwe Chiliza, with 41 votes to 39.

[156] Police Minister Bheki Cele warned that authorities would not tolerate "threats of instability in order to register objections or concerns about the electoral processes".