South Africa Elections 2019

[Idris2002]

So, in a couple of days, there'll be new elections in South Africa.

2019 South African general election - Wikipedia

The ANC's transformation from a people's party to the tool of a comprador bourgeoisie may seem to be complete, but I do recall reading once that the first rule of South African politics is never underestimate the ANC.

But they're going to be pressed hard on their left flank by the Economic Freedom Fighters. And the opposition Democratic Alliance should be making a strong showing as well.

This won't be the election where the ANC loses power. . . but it may well be the last election they win.

More as we get it.

 

[SpackleFrog]

The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (party formed by NUMSA, largest union in the country) is also standing. They don't have a website yet but some info here: Leadership elected, manifesto adopted – SRWP - POLITICS | Politicsweb

I would say it's unlikely they will make significant inroads but it's interesting that this is the first party to be formed by a trade union. However the new South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has not agreed to support it.

E2A: Saftu rejects Numsa’s Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party

 

[Idris2002]

I've been to Port Elizabeth: the shares were not dealt out equally, I can tell you that much.

"The main thing is a job": The battle for South Africa's swing city - African Arguments

 

[Idris2002]

The ANC's backsliding could well have unpleasant, and surprising results:

South Africa is ripe for right-wing populist movements

 

[Idris2002]

 

[Poi E]

They nicked that from one for the euro elections.

At least they have a media that questions power and a semblance of pluralism with constitution, constitutional court, provincial government etc.

 

[Idris2002]

Spoiler

 

[Idris2002]

Reports of polling stations running out of ballot papers - I wonder how serious this will be?

Elections 2019 latest news: Ballot papers run out across South Africa - live updates

 

[Idris2002]

And it's the ANC, with 56% of votes cast who win this year's ballot.

Breakdown of the vote here:

Elections 2019 Live

SpackleFrog - the Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party seem to have got a derisory 0.15% of the vote. I don't think we're going to see any action of an independent worker led kind any time soon. A lot of the people who might have voted for something like that are already with the Economic Freedom Fighters, who got 9.22% of votes cast. I'd say they'll stick with them, or go with this (genuinely sinister) African Transformation Movement (see the link in post 4 above).

The Democratic Alliance, the party of "hey everybody, let's pretend South Africa is a small country somewhere in Western Europe", got 23.91%. And that's what they'll continue to get in the near future.

 

[SpackleFrog]

And it's the ANC, with 56% of votes cast who win this year's ballot.

Breakdown of the vote here:

Elections 2019 Live

SpackleFrog - the Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party seem to have got a derisory 0.15% of the vote. I don't think we're going to see any action of an independent worker led kind any time soon. A lot of the people who might have voted for something like that are already with the Economic Freedom Fighters, who got 9.22% of votes cast. I'd say they'll stick with them, or go with this (genuinely sinister) African Transformation Movement (see the link in post 4 above).

The Democratic Alliance, the party of "hey everybody, let's pretend South Africa is a small country somewhere in Western Europe", got 23.91%. And that's what they'll continue to get in the near future.

Yeah, I thought they would. Not much better than WASP in 2014, who called for a vote for SRWP this year. NUMSA couldn't convince SAFTU, the new union federation, to back the party. SAFTU sees it as NUMSA's party/project and not something that was open to everone. SAFTU is committed to a party of the working class though, so perhaps future efforts will fare better.

EFF continue to improve their results, despite all the corruption scandals. Malema is a very, very clever man.

 

[Idris2002]

Yeah, I thought they would. Not much better than WASP in 2014, who called for a vote for SRWP this year. NUMSA couldn't convince SAFTU, the new union federation, to back the party. SAFTU sees it as NUMSA's party/project and not something that was open to everone. SAFTU is committed to a party of the working class though, so perhaps future efforts will fare better.

EFF continue to improve their results, despite all the corruption scandals. Malema is a very, very clever man.

To give Malema his due, he did speak out against xenophobic violence.

 

[SpackleFrog]

To give Malema his due, he did speak out against xenophobic violence.

Oh yeah totally and fair play to him, I mean I think some of the stuff that was said about EFF a few years ago - that they were "fascist" is crazy nonsense.

I think broadly speaking though with the EFF, I always wonder where the money was coming from, and with Malema I can't help but think that if he hadn't been expelled from the ANC he would be loyally slating the EFF or anything else like it from within the ANC ranks. He might even have given Ramaphosa a run for his money as President as well.

 

[SpackleFrog]

The Democratic Alliance, the party of "hey everybody, let's pretend South Africa is a small country somewhere in Western Europe", got 23.91%. And that's what they'll continue to get in the near future.

Keeps edging up though. They are getting more black voters. How long until the ANC are below 50% and we have coalition govts?

 

[Poi E]

Local seats in E Cape are moving DA. Hit the roads of Western Cape after driving E Cape and as a tourist you start to get an inkling.

 

[Idris2002]

The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (party formed by NUMSA, largest union in the country) is also standing. They don't have a website yet but some info here: Leadership elected, manifesto adopted – SRWP - POLITICS | Politicsweb

I would say it's unlikely they will make significant inroads but it's interesting that this is the first party to be formed by a trade union. However the new South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has not agreed to support it.

E2A: Saftu rejects Numsa’s Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party

NUMSA has about 370,000 members: the SRWP struggled to get past the 15,000 mark.

I think this has to show that the whole idea of a socialist alternative outside the big parties is a non-starter in South Africa, at least at the present time.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...the-minnows-outsiders-underdogs-and-chancers/

 

[SpackleFrog]

NUMSA has about 370,000 members: the SRWP struggled to get past the 15,000 mark.

I think this has to show that the whole idea of a socialist alternative outside the big parties is a non-starter in South Africa, at least at the present time.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...the-minnows-outsiders-underdogs-and-chancers/

I don't think it's a non starter but the way NUMSA tried to build it failed abjectly. It will take a long time.