In a recent address in Braamfontein, John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), highlighted the significance of the Multi-party Charter movement in Gauteng.
Steenhuisen urged South Africans to take advantage of the upcoming voter registration weekend to ensure their participation in the 2024 general election.
According to Steenhuisen, the Multi-party Charter, which includes parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and the African Christian Democratic Party, currently holds a 45% support, compared to the African National Congress’ (ANC) 37%.
This puts the Multi-party Charter just 6% away from achieving a majority. Steenhuisen stated, “The ANC’s support in this province has plummeted to just 37%.
They are in the departure lounge, and on election day next year, Solly [Msimanga] and the team here in Gauteng are going to give them the push out of government. But we can only get this right if citizens stand up.”
In the previous election, the ANC secured 50.19% of the vote in Gauteng, while the Multi-party Charter garnered 45%. Nationally, the ANC received 57.50% of the vote, with the DA at 20.77%.
Steenhuisen expressed confidence in his party’s growth, citing several credible polls that indicate a potential 5-10% increase in support. He also pointed to recent by-elections, where the DA has seen an average increase of 7.5% compared to its 2021 figures.
The upcoming voter registration weekend, scheduled for November 18th and 19th, presents an opportunity for South Africans of voting age to register or verify their details at various registration stations between 8 am and 5 pm.
This campaign by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) marks the first voter registration drive leading up to next year’s ballot.
Recognizing the significance of the upcoming election, Steenhuisen emphasized the need to remove the ANC from power. He stated, “Change doesn’t happen by osmosis; change is an act of the will.
“It is a physical act of registering and making sure that you vote for that change because the people in the Western Cape would not be enjoying the jobs, the good services, the decent education, and the quality health care if they hadn’t voted for it in the first place.”
With a growing level of apathy among eligible voters, both the IEC and participating political parties have launched campaigns to encourage the estimated 14 million unregistered voters to take part in the democratic process.
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As South Africa approaches the 2024 general election, the Multi-party Charter movement in Gauteng, led by the DA and other parties, is gaining momentum.
Steenhuisen’s call for active citizen participation in the upcoming voter registration weekend highlights the importance of individuals exercising their right to vote and shaping the country’s political future.
