Zuma's MK Party, SARA among 27 new political parties registered with IEC
The Electoral Commission has gazetted the names of 27 of South Africa’s newest parties, which registered between last September and the end of December.
Former President Jacob Zuma addresses members of the media under the banner of new party uMkhontho We Sizwe on 16 December 2023. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The Electoral Commission (IEC) says it registered 27 new political parties in the last four months of 2023.
They include former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the Transformation Alliance, led by one-time acting Tshwane mayor, Abel Tau.
The SA Rainbow Alliance (SARA) headed by former City of Joburg Speaker, Colleen Makhubele, is also among last month’s party registrations.
The Electoral Commission has gazetted the names of 27 of South Africa’s newest parties, which registered between last September and the end of December, some, with colourful names like the Gap Fixers, led by KZN businessman Themba Buthelezi, and Our Last Hope.
Others have expressed their intent clearly in their names, like, Change South Africa and Save South Africa.
But political analyst from the University of Pretoria, Heather Thuynsma, said that more parties did not necessarily mean more choice for a disillusioned electorate.
"All these parties are saying essentially the same thing, and using the same language. They are not offering voters substantially different, which could, in the end, be their downfall."
Thuynsma said voters might find themselves overwhelmed by too many options that could see them avoiding making a choice altogether.