South Africa's Democratic Alliance Tries to Win More Black Voters Ahead of Local Elections
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The Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest party, is working to attract more Black voters after being seen by many as representing mainly white South Africans.
The facts
- 1The Democratic Alliance (DA), founded in 2000, joined South Africa's Government of National Unity after the 2024 election.
- 2South Africa held its most competitive general election in 30 years in 2024, when the ruling ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid.
- 3The DA received about 22% of votes in the 2024 election, but most of its support came from white and mixed-race communities in urban areas like Cape Town.
- 4Party leaders are now recruiting Black South African candidates and spokespeople to help change how the party is perceived across the country's different communities.
- 5South Africa has 12 official languages, including South African Sign Language since July 2023, making broad political appeal across linguistic communities important for any party.
Why it matters
Political parties in democracies often struggle to represent all parts of a diverse society. Some South Africans welcome the DA's effort to become more inclusive, while critics argue the party's policies on issues like affirmative action still do not reflect the needs of the Black majority. How parties build trust across different communities affects whether governments reflect the people they serve.
Sources
- BBC News
- Electoral Commission of South Africa
- South African Government: Appointment of the national executive, 30 June 2024; South African Government: Sign language becomes the twelfth official language
Correction : Corrected the number of official languages from 11 to 12 and the description of the DA: it joined the national unity government after the 2024 election.
