Politics of the Western Cape
Encyclopedia
The politics of the Western Cape
is more complex than in most other provinces
of South Africa
, because, unlike the other provinces, the African National Congress
(ANC) does not dominate the political landscape.
In the election of 2004
, no party achieved an absolute majority in the province, with the ANC having a plurality of 45% of the votes. However, the ANC was in an alliance with the New National Party (NNP), which had 11% of the votes, which allowed the ANC-NNP coalition to form a provincial government. During the 2005 floor crossing
period all of the NNP members of the Provincial Parliament moved to the ANC, giving the ANC an absolute majority in the province. The ANC chose Ebrahim Rasool
as Premier; in 2008 he was replaced by Lynne Brown
. The provincial leader of the ANC is Mcebisi Skwatsha.
The official opposition in the Western Cape after the 2004 elections was the Democratic Alliance (DA), which received 27% of the vote in the provincial ballot. A multi-party coalition led by the DA has also controlled the City of Cape Town
, the most populous municipality in the province, since the 2006 municipal elections
.
In the election of 22 April 2009
the ANC was unseated by the DA, which took 51.46% of the vote. This election marks the first time since the end of apartheid that a party has scored an overall majority in the province. The DA leader Helen Zille
replaced Lynne Brown as Premier on 6 May 2009.
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
is more complex than in most other provinces
Provinces of South Africa
South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the 1994 general election, South Africa's former homelands, also known as Bantustans, were reintegrated and the four existing provinces were divided into nine. The twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the constitution...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, because, unlike the other provinces, the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) does not dominate the political landscape.
In the election of 2004
South African general election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 April 2004. The African National Congress of President Thabo Mbeki, which came to power after the end of the apartheid system in 1994, was re-elected with an increased majority....
, no party achieved an absolute majority in the province, with the ANC having a plurality of 45% of the votes. However, the ANC was in an alliance with the New National Party (NNP), which had 11% of the votes, which allowed the ANC-NNP coalition to form a provincial government. During the 2005 floor crossing
Floor crossing (South Africa)
Floor crossing in South Africa was a controversial system under which Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Legislatures and Local Government councillors could change political party and take their seats with them when they did so...
period all of the NNP members of the Provincial Parliament moved to the ANC, giving the ANC an absolute majority in the province. The ANC chose Ebrahim Rasool
Ebrahim Rasool
Ebrahim Rasool was the Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa. He is a member of the African National Congress.Anti-Apartheid Struggle Activist:...
as Premier; in 2008 he was replaced by Lynne Brown
Lynne Brown
Lynne Brown is the former Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa. She was born in Cape Town on 26 September 1961 and grew up in Mitchell's Plain. She was appointed to the post following the resignation of Ebrahim Rasool in July 2008. Previously, she was Minister for Economic...
. The provincial leader of the ANC is Mcebisi Skwatsha.
The official opposition in the Western Cape after the 2004 elections was the Democratic Alliance (DA), which received 27% of the vote in the provincial ballot. A multi-party coalition led by the DA has also controlled the City of Cape Town
City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town is the metropolitan municipality which governs the city of Cape Town, South Africa and its suburbs and exurbs. As of 2007, it had a population of 3,497,097....
, the most populous municipality in the province, since the 2006 municipal elections
South African municipal election, 2006
Municipal elections were held in South Africa on 1 March 2006, to elect members to the local governing councils in the municipalities of South Africa...
.
In the election of 22 April 2009
South African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
the ANC was unseated by the DA, which took 51.46% of the vote. This election marks the first time since the end of apartheid that a party has scored an overall majority in the province. The DA leader Helen Zille
Helen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
replaced Lynne Brown as Premier on 6 May 2009.
See also
- Politics of South AfricaPolitics of South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The President of South Africa is both head of state and head of government; in the same manner as the prime minister of other nations, the President is elected by the National Assembly and must enjoy the confidence of the Assembly...
- Government of the Western Cape