Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
27 February 2024 | 10:40 a.m. SAST
1 minute read

Image: IOL

The 2024 South African general election is set to be held on May 29, 2024. This year’s election comes at a critical juncture for South Africa and has been described as the most competitive since the beginning of the country’s democracy in 1994.

The outcome of the election will be largely affected by results in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the country’s two most densely populated and economically robust provinces, says Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at the Nelson Mandela University.

Political investment in these two provinces is imperative, Professor Mngomezulu notes, adding that the African National Congress (ANC) would do well to make these areas the focal point of their political campaign to retain voter support.

Professor Mngomezulu believes that the main contenders in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the ANC, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

“Basically, in my view, we have the IFP, we have the ANC, and then we have uMkhonto we Sizwe. Not, of course, ruling out the DA trying to form this coalition, working with the IFP in KwaZulu Natal, and then trying to form the multi-party pack nationally,” Professor Mngomezulu says.

The announcement of former President Jacob Zuma’s endorsement of the MK Party in December 2023 is described by Professor Mngomezulu as a strategic political move. It has caused quite a stir since its entry into the political arena and poses a threat to all political parties. Mngomezulu says that the MK party’s possible national effect on the upcoming elections cannot be ignored.

Support for the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal specifically has significantly declined, making uMkhonto we Sizwe the perfect candidate to replace it, especially because of Jacob Zuma’s endorsement.

“Because if you look at Jacob Zuma’s picture, that gentleman is a charismatic leader. And he’s close to the people… There are people who are going to leave their parties and vote for uMkhonto we Sizwe because he’s [Zuma’s] coming to the picture… uMkhonto we Sizwe is one big elephant in the room, and all of them have to deal with it,” Professor Mngomezulu says.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.