27 August 2025 | 10:10 CAT
2-minute read

Image: Spotlight

South Africa’s political landscape is becoming increasingly crowded, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) confirming that the country now has 472 registered political parties — the highest number in its history. This comes after 34 new parties were added to the roll since the 2024 general elections.

The announcement was made at an IEC media briefing in Pretoria, where Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the rise in registrations reflects growing political participation.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Gauteng’s Provincial Electoral Officer, Thabo Masemula, explained that the diversity of registrations spans all levels of governance.

“Some of them have registered to contest elections at national level, others are regional party-based and others are provincially-based political parties,” Masemula said.

According to the IEC, of the 472 registered parties, 278 are eligible to contest at national level, while the remaining 194 are registered provincially or at district level. Masemula revealed that the commission processed 13 new party applications between July and now, showing that the appetite for political formation has not slowed since the last general election.

Registering a political party in South Africa remains a relatively straightforward process. Applicants are required to provide a party constitution, name, logo, and must gazette their intention to register. Masemula noted that this accessibility distinguishes South Africa from other democracies.

“Unlike other jurisdictions, in South Africa it is easy to establish and register a political party. I think the requirements are not that stringent as compared to other countries,” he explained.

However, questions have been raised about whether the growing list of political parties dilutes effective governance, given that only 18 parties are currently represented in Parliament.

Critics argue that regulations should be tightened to prevent the registration of parties with little intention of contesting elections. Masemula responded by stressing that the country’s constitutional framework enshrines a multi-party system, making political diversity a foundational value.

“Whilst we encourage such a robust debate, we should not forget that the founding values in terms of our constitution — Section 1(d) — says South Africa is a multi-party democratic system. So that is one of the fundamental values contained and enshrined in our constitution,” he said.

Looking ahead, Masemula confirmed that the next local government elections will be scheduled between 2 November 2026 and 31 January 2027, within the constitutional timeframe that follows the expiry of councillors’ current terms of office.

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