South African general election, 1994
Encyclopedia
The South African general election of 1994 was an election
held in South Africa
to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC).
Millions queued in lines over a three day voting period. Altogether 19,726,579 votes were counted and 193,081 were rejected as invalid. The African National Congress
(ANC), whose slate incorporated the labour confederation COSATU
and the South African Communist Party
, fell short of a two-thirds majority. As required by the Interim Constitution, the ANC formed a Government of National Unity with the National Party
and the Inkatha Freedom Party
, the two other parties that won more than twenty seats in the National Assembly.
The date 27 April is now a public holiday in South Africa
, Freedom Day
.
were chosen, 10 from each province, by the newly elected provincial legislatures. Each province's Senate seats were allocated in proportion to the parties' representation in the provincial legislature.
In 1997, on the adoption of the final Constitution
, the Senate became the National Council of Provinces
; its political makeup remained the same, but members were divided into permanent and special delegates, as described in the following table.
were elected from party lists in proportion to each party's share of the provincial ballot. The following table summarises the result, showing only parties that won at least one seat. The majority party in each legislature is indicated in bold.
The following tables detail the results in each province.
s were used to monitor the elections.
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
held in 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...
to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission
Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa)
The Independent Electoral Commission is South Africa's independent election management body. It manages elections to the National Assembly, the provincial legislatures and the municipal councils....
(IEC).
Millions queued in lines over a three day voting period. Altogether 19,726,579 votes were counted and 193,081 were rejected as invalid. 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), whose slate incorporated the labour confederation COSATU
Congress of South African Trade Unions
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the biggest of the country’s three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions, altogether organising 1.8 million workers.-Establishment:COSATU was established in...
and the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
, fell short of a two-thirds majority. As required by the Interim Constitution, the ANC formed a Government of National Unity with the National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
and the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
, the two other parties that won more than twenty seats in the National Assembly.
The date 27 April is now a public holiday in South Africa
Public holidays in South Africa
A list of holidays in South Africa:The Public Holidays Act determines that whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it will be a public holiday.-Once-off holidays:...
, Freedom Day
Freedom Day (South Africa)
Freedom Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on April 27. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994...
.
National Assembly
The 400 members of the National Assembly were chosen from party lists in proportion to each party's share of the national ballot.Senate
The 90 members of the SenateSenate of South Africa
The Senate was the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa between 1910 and its abolition from 1 January 1981, and between 1994 and 1997.-1910-1981:...
were chosen, 10 from each province, by the newly elected provincial legislatures. Each province's Senate seats were allocated in proportion to the parties' representation in the provincial legislature.
In 1997, on the adoption of the final Constitution
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
, the Senate became the National Council of Provinces
National Council of Provinces
The National Council of Provinces is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the constitution which came into full effect in 1997...
; its political makeup remained the same, but members were divided into permanent and special delegates, as described in the following table.
Provincial legislature results
Members of the provincial legislaturesProvincial legislature (South Africa)
In South Africa, a provincial legislature is the legislative branch of the government of a province. The provincial legislatures are unicameral and vary in size from 30 to 80 members depending on the population of the province...
were elected from party lists in proportion to each party's share of the provincial ballot. The following table summarises the result, showing only parties that won at least one seat. The majority party in each legislature is indicated in bold.
The following tables detail the results in each province.
Security
Denel Dynamics Seeker unmanned aerial vehicleUnmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s were used to monitor the elections.
External links
- U.S. Department of the Army, South Africa Country Study, "The 1994 Elections"
- IEC results for 1994 election
- Proportional representation and alternative systems