2019 Gauteng provincial election

2019 Gauteng provincial election
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All 73 seats to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
37 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate David Makhura Solly Msimanga Mandisa Mashego
Party ANC DA EFF
Last election 53.59% 30.78% 10.30%
Seats before 40 23 8
Seats won 37 20 11
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 3 Increase 3
Popular vote 2,168,253 1,185,743 634,387
Percentage 50.19% 27.45% 14.69%
Swing Decrease 3.40% Decrease 3.33% Increase4.39%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
FF+
IFP
ACDP
Candidate Anton Alberts Bonginkosi Wesley Dhlamini Dulton Adams
Party Freedom Front Plus Inkatha Freedom Party African Christian Democratic Party
Last election 1.20% 0.78% 0.62%
Seats before 1 1 0
Seats won 3 1 1
Seat change Increase 2 Steady0 Increase1
Popular vote 153,844 38,263 30,605
Percentage 3.56% 0.89% 0.71%
Swing Increase 2.36% Increase 0.11% Increase 0.09%
Premier before election

David Makhura
African National Congress

Elected Premier

David Makhura
African National Congress

The 2019 Gauteng provincial election was held on 8 May 2019, concurrently with the 2019 South African general election, to elect the 73 members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Incumbent Premier David Makhura led the ruling African National Congress (ANC), with the party attempting to retain its majority status and secure Makhura a second full term in office as premier. The media and political analysts widely expected that the ANC would lose its majority in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, therefore it was considered to be the most hotly-contested province in this election cycle.

The Official Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) nominated Mayor of Tshwane Solly Msimanga to be its premier candidate. Msimanga was elected Tshwane Mayor in the aftermath of the 2016 South African municipal elections as the ANC had lost its majority in the Tshwane City Council. The DA did also manage to gain control of the City of Johannesburg and Mogale City.[1][2][3][4]

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which won 8 seats and clinched the title of the third largest party in 2014, was expected to grow in this election, possibly holding the balance of power, if the ANC had lost its majority.[5][6]

The fourth largest party in the provincial legislature, the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), saw Gauteng as a province of significant importance for its election campaign. The party nominated Member of Parliament and advocate Anton Alberts as its premier candidate.[7][8][9]

The provincial election was won by the ruling ANC, but with a reduced seat total of only 37 seats, the threshold for a majority. The DA underperformed and lost support in this election, losing a total of three seats, which only gave the party 20 seats in the provincial legislature. The EFF grew its support and won three additional seats. The FF+ gained two seats, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) retained its sole seat. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) returned to the provincial legislature by winning one seat.[10][11]

  1. ^ Maimane announces Msimanga as Gauteng Premier candidate, SABC News, 19 August 2018. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  2. ^ DA's Solly Msimanga Gauteng premier candidate for 2019, Mail & Guardian, 19 August 2018. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  3. ^ Solly Msimanga named as DA’s candidate for Gauteng premier. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  4. ^ The DA chooses Solly Msimanga as preferred Gauteng Premier candidate. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  5. ^ Elections 2019: IRR voter survey shows surge in EFF support since 2014. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  6. ^ Is this the 2019 Election result? ANC 61%, DA 19%, EFF 11%, IFP 3% & FF+ 1%. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  7. ^ FFPlus announces Gauteng premier candidate, SABC News, 27 February 2019. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  8. ^ Mirrian, Natasha. 2021: ANC, DA could lose metros, Mail & Guardian, 17 May 2019. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  9. ^ Adv. Anton Alberts, Member of Parliament and chairperson of the FF Plus, was appointed as the party’s premier candidate for Gauteng. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  10. ^ ANC holds on to Gauteng by a whisker. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  11. ^ ANC holding onto victory in Gauteng, for now. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.