Highlights: The electoral campaign has begun in South Africa, with general elections scheduled for May 29, 2024. The party that comes first in the legislative vote will see its leader become president of the country. For the first time since 1994, the ANC could lose its absolute majority. The electoral battle promises to be tough, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal region, in the east of South Africa. Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP), which had a full stadium, hopes to take the region back from the ANC.

The electoral campaign has begun in South Africa, with general elections scheduled for May 29, 2024. The party that comes first in the legislative vote will see its leader become president...

South Africa: the Zulu vote very popular as the legislative elections approach

The electoral campaign has begun in South Africa, with general elections scheduled for May 29, 2024. The party that comes first in the legislative vote will see its leader become president of the country.

And, for the first time since 1994, the ANC could lose its absolute majority.

A view of the city Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (illustrative image).

These lands are highly contested, as it is the second most populated region in South Africa.

AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

Claire Bargelès

South Africa

, the electoral battle promises to be tough, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal region, in the east of the country.

This is also where many parties launched their campaigns.

Latest: the Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP), which had a full stadium.

It is not surprising that this training, created by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, began in Durban, in the heart of Zulu country.

Coalition

Despite the death of its historic leader last year, the IFP continues to be supported by South Africa's largest ethnic group, the Zulus, who represent a fifth of the population.

Even though the party only garnered 3% of the vote nationwide in 2019, it remains the main opposition in local government, and its new leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa, hopes to take the region back from the ANC and potentially play a role in a national coalition led by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

But the lands of

KwaZulu-Natal

are highly contested, since it is the second most populous region, after Gauteng which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, and therefore represents a large reservoir of votes.

This same Moses-Mabhida stadium in Durban has already seen, in recent weeks, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a show of force for the ANC, as well as Julius Malema, at the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Finally, ex-president Jacob Zuma is also counting on his native region to win a number of votes with his new political party uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) and trip up his former party, the ANC.

Observers?

Furthermore, the Democratic Alliance sent a letter to the United States, asking them to send election observers to guarantee the integrity of the vote.

A “ hypocritical

” request

for the South African president who emphasizes that the country already welcomes regional observers.

Read also South Africa: former president Jacob Zuma head of list of a dissident ANC party in the legislative elections

South Africa: the Zulu vote very popular as the legislative elections approach

South Africa: the Zulu vote very popular as the legislative elections approach

Coalition

Observers?

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