Elections 2024 countdown: FIVE weeks to go until SA heads to the polls

Elections 2024 countdown: FIVE weeks to go until SA heads to the polls

Wednesday, 24 April marks the five weeks to go mark for those South Africans eligible to vote in the 2024 general elections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Wednesday, 29 May 2024 as the date for South Africa’s seventh national elections.

The day has also been declared a public holiday in the country.

That date is in exactly 35 days from the date of publishing.

Meanwhile, as reported by The South African website, voters will need to place their all-important ‘X’ on three different ballot papers.

Have you decided who you will be voting for?

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Overseas Elections 2024 vote dates confirmed

Meanwhile, as reported by The South African website, the dates for those living overseas – and eligible to vote – have also been confirmed.

If you live in an Islamic country, you will cast your vote on Friday, 17 May.

For everyone else registered to vote outside of Mzansi, you will do so on Saturday, 18 May.

Stats and facts

Meanwhile, according to the official IEC website, a record number of over 27.79 million voters are eligible to do so this year.

It’s the highest total since the dawn of democracy in the country.

In 2024, the provincial breakdown of the registered voters indicates that Gauteng remains as the biggest voting block, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

There has also been a marked increase in the rate of representation by persons in the age group 18-39 years.

This age band accounts for 42% – or 11.7 million – voters on the voters’ roll.

Interestingly, the trend of there being more females on the voters’ roll continues.

Of the 27.79 million voters, 15 million are females. This represents over 55%.

Ramaphosa determined this year’s voting date “in accordance with section 49(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, read with section 17 of the Electoral act of 1998”, according to a statement released by the Presidency.

He added that he had also consulted with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and premiers on the date and preparedness.

“The president convened a meeting with all nine provincial premiers and the IEC to discuss the state of readiness for the general elections,” the statement continued.

Please come out and vote on 29 May 2024, urges Ramaphosa

With the SA national elections date now confirmed, Ramaphosa urged all eligible voters to participate in this “historic milestone of our democratic calendar”.

“Beyond the fulfilment of our constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of our democratic journey and a determination of the future that we all desire.

“I call on all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote and for those who will be campaigning to do so peacefully, within the full observance of the law. We also urge unregistered voters to use the online registration platform to register,” added Ramaphosa.