‘Multi-party Charter biggest movement in Gauteng’ – Steenhuisen
According to Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, an internal poll revealed the Multi-Party Charter has surpassed the ANC as the biggest political movement in Gauteng.
Steenhuisen was speaking in Braamfontein on Friday, where he urged South Africans to use the upcoming voter registration weekend to ensure they participate in the 2024 general election.
He says the poll shows the charter, which consists of other parties such as IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and the African Christian Democratic Party, was sitting 45% compared to the ANC’s 37%.
“That’s just 6% from a 51% majority. The ANC’s support in this province has plummeted to just 37%. They are in the departure lounge, and on election day next year Solly [Msimanga] and the team here in Gauteng are going to give them the [push] out of government. But we can only get this right if citizens stand up.”
The ANC amassed 50.19% of the vote in Gauteng, versus 45%. Nationally, the ANC had 57.50% of the vote while the DA had 20.77%
Steenhuisen says several credible polls have shown anything between a 5-10% growth for his party.
The DA leader said if recent by-elections serve as any indication, his party is on the growth path.
“If you look at the recent by-elections, the DA is on average 7.5% up on our 2021 figures. That is backing up the polls by the actual voting on the ground.”
READ: ANC will remain influential despite drop in electoral support – analyst
South Africans of voting age will have the opportunity to register or verify their details across various registration stations on the 18 and 19 November between 8 am and 5 pm.
This is the Independent Electoral Commission’s first voter registration campaign ahead of next year’s ballot.
With next year’s election promising to be a defining moment in the country’s political history, Steenhuisen has urged to boot the governing ANC out.
“Change doesn’t happen by osmosis; change is an act of the will. It is a physical act of registering and making sure that you vote for that change because the people in the Western Cape would not be enjoying the jobs, the good services, the decent education, and the quality health care if they hadn’t voted for it in the first place," Steenhuisen said.
Amid growing levels of apathy, both the IEC and contending parties have embarked on campaigns that aim to convince the estimated 14 million unregistered eligible voters.
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