Elections ’24
Leaked recordings, election rigging and three-ballot system explained
This article originally appeared as an elections newsletter by Ferial Haffajee. Here, we break down everything you need to know before the big vote. This week, your top six need-to-knows include leaked recordings, election rigging, and a detailed breakdown of the three-ballot system.
1. Leaked recording: President Cyril Ramaphosa is nervous about the ANC’s chances
Sam Mkokeli reported on a leaked recording of a make-it-or-break-it ANC national executive committee meeting in the Sunday Times at the weekend. Ramaphosa entreated his executive leaders to get out on the road, showing that the ANC is nervous. Queenin Masuabi covered the same meeting. The ANC is eyeing a 57% majority but chances look slim, and the tone of Ramaphosa’s recording only made that clearer.
2. Election rigging impossible, says IEC boss
Lerato Mutsila reported here on a Wits School of Government briefing by Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa deputy chairperson Mosotho Moepya. The briefing was wide-ranging and worth a read: Moepya explained the process to ensure there is no ballot box rigging. He also said that while the IEC is in a legal battle at the Constitutional Court with MK party leader and former president Jacob Zuma (it asked the top court to clarify whether or not it decides on candidates standing or not), this cannot destabilise the election timetable or delay the poll. The ConCourt is expected to make an order this week.
3. An explainer on the three-ballot system
Former ANC MP and diplomat Melanie Verwoerd wrote this useful piece about how the three-ballot system works, pointing out that it needs a lot more explaining. [We agree, DM readers are emailing us too. Ed.]
4. In the toughest ward in Durban, MK and ANC go door to door. This is an elections ’24 Ground Zero hotspot
Chris Makhaye reported on how eThekwini’s Ward 101 is at the heart of the campaign for KZN. The province, along with Gauteng, is where the election outcome will be determined. The provinces have the highest number of registered voters, and are also the two provinces that will determine the ANC’s fortunes.
5. Daily Maverick is on the road. First stop: Pomfret
Rebecca Davis and Victoria O’ Regan got into the rugged Fords loaned to our reporters to tell the stories of Elections ’24. They headed to the forgotten town of Pomfret in the North West, home, of course, to apartheid’s once-feared 32 Batallion. It is a must-read.
6. You’re wrong about Patriotic Alliance, DM readers tell us
Last week, we ran this manifesto analysis of Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance. [I have issues with how profoundly unconstitutional it is in several aspects. Ed.] But several DM readers replied, sending messages like this.
“Although I shall never vote PA, the following I agree with:
- religion in schools,
- deportation of illegals,
- restrict trade unions,
- the death penalty.”
Ed … are you saying that the manifesto is unconstitutional or the analysis is unconstitutional (surely not the analysis.)