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South Africa

System of governmentUnitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index0.69/1
Head of State and Government (President)Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC, centre-left)
Parties in GovernmentANC (centre-left)
DA (liberal|centre-right)
IFP (conservative)
PA (right-wing)
VF+ (right-wing)
UDM (centre-left)
RISE (centre-left)
Al Jama-ah (Islamist)
PAC (centre-left)
Good (centre-left)

National Assembly

Last updated: 5 June 2024

National Polling Average

Parties

African National Congress (ANC)

Leader: Cyril Ramaphosa
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social democracy
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
National affiliation: Tripartite Alliance (centre-left to left-wing)
International affiliation: Former Liberation Movements of Southern Arica, Socialist International

Democratic Alliance (DA)

Leader: John Steenhuisen
Orientation:
Liberal|Centre-right
Ideology:
Liberalism, federalism, anti-corruption
Stance towards the government:
Government of National Unity
International affiliation: Africa Liberal Network, Liberal International

uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)
Spear of the Nation

Leader: Jacob Zuma
Orientation: Left-wing|Conservative
Ideology: Left-wing populism, African nationalism, Zulu nationalism, social conservatism, anti-immigration
Stance towards the government: Opposition
National affiliation: Progressive Caucus (left-wing to centre-right)
International affiliation: N/A

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)

Leader: Julius Malema
Orientation: Left-wing
Ideology: Democratic socialism, African nationalism, left-wing populism
Stance towards the government: Opposition
National affiliation: Progressive Caucus (left-wing to centre-right)
International affiliation: N/A

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)

Leader: Velenkosini Hlabisa
Orientation: Conservative
Ideology: Social conservatism, federalism, economic liberalism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: Democrat Union of Africa, International Democrat Union

Patriotic Alliance (PA)

Leader: Gayton Mckenzie
Orientation:
Right-wing
Ideology:
Right-wing populism, coloured interests, anti-immigration
Stance towards the government:
Government of National Unity
International affiliation:
N/A

Vryheidsfront Plus (VF+)
Freedom Front Plus (FF+)

Leader: Pieter Groenewald
Orientation: Right-wing
Ideology: Right-wing populism, national conservatism, minority interests, Cape independence
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

ActionSA

Leader: Herman Mashaba
Orientation:
Centre-right
Ideology:
Classical liberalism, anti-immigration, libertarianism (factions)
Stance towards the government:
Opposition
International affiliation: N/A

African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)

Leader: Kenneth Meshoe
Orientation: Conservative
Ideology: Radical social conservatism, Christian democracy
Stance towards the government: Opposition
International affiliation: Democrat Union of Africa

United Democratic Movement (UDM)

Leader: Bantu Holomisa
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social democracy, unitarism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: N/A

RISE Mzansi (RISE)

Leader: Songezo Zibi
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social democracy, progressivism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: N/A

Build One South Africa (BOSA)

Leader: Mmusi Maimane
Orientation: Liberal
Ideology: Social liberalism, economic liberalism, centrism
Stance towards the government: Opposition
International affiliation: N/A

African Transformation Movement (ATM)

Leader: Vuyolwethu Zungula
Orientation:
Centre-right
Ideology:
Christian democracy, social conservatism, anti-immigration
Stance towards the government:
Opposition
National affiliation:
Progressive Caucus (left-wing to centre-right)
International affiliation: N/A

Al Jama-ah
ุงู„ุฌู…ุงุนุฉ
al-jamฤสฟa
The Congregation

Leader: Ganief Hendricks
Orientation: Islamist
Ideology: Islamic democracy, social conservatism, social democracy, Muslim interests
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: N/A

Pan Africanist Congress (of Azania) (PAC)

Leader: Mzwanele Nyhontso
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social democracy, African nationalism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: N/A

United Africans Transformation (UAT)

Leader: Wonder Mahlatsi
Orientation: Left-wing
Ideology: Pan-Africanism, socialism
Stance towards the government: Opposition
National affiliation: Progressive Caucus (left-wing to centre-right)
International affiliation: N/A

Good

Leader: Patricia de Lille
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social democracy, progressivism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
International affiliation: N/A

South African Communist Party (SACP)

Leader: Blade Nzimande
Orientation: Left-wing
Ideology: Democratic socialism
Stance towards the government: Government of National Unity
National affiliation: Tripartite Alliance (left-wing to centre-left)
International affiliation: International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Party

United Independent Movement (UIM)

Leader: Neil de Beer
Orientation:
Centre-right
Ideology:
Christian democracy
Stance towards the government:
Extraparliamentary opposition
International affiliation:
N/A

African Independent Congress (AIC)

Leader: Mandla Galo
Orientation:
Centre-right
Ideology:
Social conservatism
Stance towards the government:
Extraparliamentary opposition
International affiliation:
N/A

National Freedom Party (NFP)

Leader: Ivan Rowan Barnes
Orientation: Centre
Ideology: Social liberalism, Zulu interests
Stance towards the government: Extraparliamentary opposition
International affiliation: N/A

Congress of the People (COPE)

Leader: Mosiuoa Lekota
Orientation: Centre-left
Ideology: Social liberalism, progressivism
Stance towards the government: Extraparliamentary opposition
International affiliation: N/A

National Coloured Congress (NCC)

Leader: Fadiel Adams
Orientation: Minority interests
Ideology: Coloured interests, social conservativism, anti-immigration, populism
Stance towards the government: Opposition
National affiliation: Progressive Caucus (left-wing to centre-right)
International affiliation: N/A

Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ICOSA)

Leader: Jeffrey Donson
Orientation:
*
Ideology:
*
Stance towards the government:
Extraparliamentary opposition
International affiliation:
N/A