Timeline
From the 1992 referendum to the 2026 local elections poll. Tap a year.
1992 Referendum
The whites-only referendum on continuing reform
Only white South Africans could vote in this referendum. Here, anyone can re-cast it. It was the last vote in South Africa limited by race; two years later came universal suffrage.
- Official winner
- Yes (68.73% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 2 799 796
- Turnout
- 85.08%
- Options here
- 2
1994 General Election
South Africa's first non-racial, universal-franchise election
The first election in which all adult South Africans could vote. Long queues, a new flag, a new constitution in the making. There was no pre-existing voters' roll, so official turnout against registered voters is not available.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (62.65% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 19 533 498
- Options here
- 8
1999 General Election
The second democratic election
The first election held with a voters' roll, and the last election contested by the New National Party as a major force.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (66.35% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 15 977 142
- Turnout
- 89.30%
- Options here
- 14
2004 General Election
Ten years of democracy
Held almost exactly ten years after 1994. The Democratic Alliance contested its first general election under that name.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (69.69% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 15 612 671
- Turnout
- 76.73%
- Options here
- 13
2009 General Election
A new party arrives
The Congress of the People (COPE), formed in 2008, contested its first general election.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (65.90% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 17 680 729
- Turnout
- 77.30%
- Options here
- 14
2014 General Election
Twenty years of democracy
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) contested its first general election. Citizens abroad could vote in larger numbers.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (62.15% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 18 402 497
- Turnout
- 73.48%
- Options here
- 14
2019 General Election
Sixth democratic general election
A crowded ballot with 48 parties on the national ballot paper.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (57.50% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 17 437 379
- Turnout
- 66.05%
- Options here
- 15
2024 General Election
Thirty years of democracy, three ballots
Voters received three ballots for the first time (national, regional and provincial). No party won an outright majority in the National Assembly. Official figures shown are the national compensatory ballot.
- Official winner
- African National Congress (40.18% of valid votes)
- Valid votes
- 16 076 719
- Turnout
- 58.64%
- Options here
- 19
2026 Local Elections: poll
Pre-election poll, ahead of the real 4 November 2026 local government elections
This is an open, self-selected online poll, not a prediction and not a survey. It cannot tell you how South Africa will vote. The real election is run by the IEC on 4 November 2026: check your registration at elections.org.za.
Will you vote on 4 November?
Non-partisan turnout poll
A simple, non-partisan question. Self-selected, for interest only.