Elections 2024: SA’s democracy runs risk of IEC losing its integrity, says Archbishop Makgoba

CAPE TOWN - More than 30 political parties that will contest elections in the Western Cape have on Thursday publicly pledged to uphold the Independent Electoral Court of South Africa (IEC)’s code of conduct.

The province is always a fierce battleground where some parties are hoping to woo voters with the idea of separating it from the rest of the country.

Over three million voters are registered to vote in the province - the highest number since democracy.

Almost half of them are under the age of 44.

With 41 days to go before voting day, the IEC is appealing to political parties to help with voter education and the confusion three ballot papers may present.

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Anglican Archbishop Thabo Mokgoba says political parties have a responsibility to exercise restraint when tensions run high.

"For the first time our constitutional democracy runs the risk of the IEC and the election process being robbed of their well-earned integrity."

Retired Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs has reminded parties of the intention behind the country’s electoral system.

"The centrality of Parliament, the people who will be voted into office in the coming period, was central to our fairly conception of not personalised rule, but rule by the people through Parliament."

Twenty-nine political parties will contest for the 42 seats in the Western Cape provincial legislature - one of the smallest in the country.

The only independent candidate to contest the regional ballot from the Western Cape is social rights activist  Zachie Achmat.