south african general election south african general election held elect new new provincial province fifth election held south_africa conditions universal adult suffrage end era held death time south african allowed vote south african national election election won reduced majority election official opposition increased share vote newly formed obtained vote provincial won obtained vote beat second place provinces won obtained second place included time beat second place province won increased majority electoral system south_africa parliamentary system government consists members elected proportional representation closed list approach members elected national party lists elected provincial party lists provinces president south_africa chosen election provincial vary size members elected proportional representation closed lists province chosen winning majority provincial legislature consists members elected provincial legislature members elected provincial proportion party makeup changes electoral legislation november electoral amendment act came force allows south african citizens resident outside south_africa register vote election new regulation added enforced time prohibition marked ballot papers aims voter intimidation political parties governing supported alliance south african communist party held majority seats elected increasing slight fall majority led elected second year term president beating rival deputy wide margin elected deputy president succeeding declined second term losing official opposition received vote led elected unopposed leader party continued provincial level power province came power municipalities municipal election traditionally seen party rallying laws especially larger following bases whites south especially absorbed disbanded congress people cope led leadership disputed continues battle recognition high_court party causing lose support resulting formation splinter group cope won seats elections remains leader despite challenge formed feud split vote dominated province previous local government elections getting share vote continued dominate stronghold announced march record number parties registered candidates national parliamentary election provincial legislature elections number parties registering candidates including parties paid required deposits subject march deadline western cape free state electoral code conduct signed march signing event draw held won right appear ballot paper new parties parties contested election time gained seats nationally expelled leader launched taking strong anti position ultra left economic platform calling land compensation south_africa mines won seats assembly elections taking lead older parties including cope formed contested election nationally time south_africa formed anti movement leader new parties formed obtain seats nationally south african political party founded based principles party aims introduce employment closing replacing grant interest free fund massive public works campaign provide free electricity owned people south_africa workers wasp launched human rights day leaders independent strike committees led strikes mining industry massacre result cope splinter group formed led new right wing national party formed december promotes self determination leader deputy leader spokesperson formed south african businessman jail mate alliances independent democrats party won seats national vote merged general election december reported opposition parties cope formed coalition specific priorities parties coalition named collective democracy chaired cope leader retain identity contest election individually denied coalition saying wary forming alliances given confusion caused supporters previous elections days later 20th largest affiliate announced endorse political party planned establish new working class collective lines defunct ultimate goal forming socialist party contest general election opposing faction obtained legal opinion removing significant implications country labour political landscape january announced accepted invitation stand presidential candidate general election south_africa set merge 31st stated party membership remain leader resulting confusion february stated agreement stand presidential candidate subsequently apologised reversal decision saying timing right reaction shown people unable overcome race based party politics february reported cope members support planned join led won seats election march reported cope joined parliamentary candidate cope mps included list national parliamentary candidates published 11th april reported cope mps defected citing poor political leadership cope member subsequently defected citing internal conflict march announced campaign banner day reported joined 17th economic freedom fighters announced agreement establish working relations independently stand elections candidates election candidates list members members south_africa list hold dual membership agreed list leadership collective endorsed lists 20th reported mps joining party national candidates list election 30th reported joined appeared election candidate lists parties endorsements newspaper urged readers oppose time ruling party political power editorial cited support cabinet ministers controversial proposed secrecy law cynical response scandal reasons editorial published day cited unemployment changes government administration policies impacted business negatively stated endorsement time vote goes editorial published economist following day cited unemployment increase corruption leadership particular stated longer deserve rule deserves endorsed 2nd social movement representing previously supported land house vote election boycott campaign announced provincial endorsement election tactical vote voter registration local voters weekends november february voting stations opened new voters register moved residence register new voting district presidency south_africa urged voters missed voting station registration weekends register office office hours presidential spokesperson said voters allowed register vote election date published government gazette voters roll closed approximately million people total visited voting stations including million new voters increased number registered voters million representing million people eligible vote country south born general election known born free generation aged older eligible vote time international voters south living abroad register vote south african embassy january february south living abroad wished vote intention vote march weekends january january registration weekends accommodate voters unable register business hours voters registered vote abroad time election total voters registered vote abroad highest numbers voters registered vote london canberra stations totalling registered voters opinion polling national ballot according internal poll conducted american march april vote survey registered members conducted sunday_times december respondents said vote said vote said vote parties remaining said know preferred answer according results pulse people survey published february multi racial party black supporters black supporters relative black survey respondents age profile supporters closely resembles age profile voters supporters slightly older overall supporters significantly younger overall non profit organisation checks facts claims africa criticised polls market research companies africa check warned polls intentionally misleading essentially provincial ballot pulse people survey undertaken october november showed number provinces closely contested continue dominate control contested parties holding balance power decisive official opposition sunday times survey undertaken february march showed enjoyed majority support provinces retains majority support support followed provinces came second place campaign debates broadcast weekly election debates february broadcast streamed live youtube channel following debates took place controversies january announced marching headquarters saying taking fight highlight failure president cut corruption create jobs said people marching representing south benefit million jobs promised create came power planned date march february later changed 12th logistical problems initially denied application march decision overturned february took matter 11th reported set march prevent marching spokesperson chief said protest march prohibited grounds security risk protesters announced march end day march application stop march filed south high court dismissed march ended early confronted supporters minutes march stones petrol bombs thrown supporters police trying calm situation march violence erupted township scene violent service delivery protests residents staged protest planned campaign area streets rocks burning tyres officials police vehicles stones police responded volatile situation firing rubber bullets residents shortly public protector final report security upgrades president private residence published march sent bulk text message voters reads report shows stole money build home vote beat corruption change submitted urgent application south high court stop distribution text message grounds violated electoral act april court ruled wording message fair comment dismissed application costs granted leave appeal decision ruled text message finding targeted personally instead systematic failures highlighted report court case ultimately won set aside ruling january april stage sound system chairs set rally petrol bombed early hours morning spokesperson said suspected members responsible sabotage spokesperson denied allegations saying don things following day accused state resources seen giving blankets rally spokesperson denied accusation saying know rally days later submitted complaint censorship public broadcaster informed continue broadcasting television titled meaning radio aired april according appears television banned public radio stations television announced hold public hearings matter thursday 17th days lodged complaint following announcement submit urgent application south high court requesting ruling long easter weekend commencing good friday day proposed public hearing date hearings commenced days earlier originally scheduled day hearing ban lifted temporarily failed provide reasons ban hearings requested time prepare response objected allowing national official opposition party participate televised election debate land reform weeks april april upheld ban television finding regulations party election broadcasts ordered photograph taken citizen photographer police officer firing rubber bullets unarmed residents march protest removed police seen threat community says seen police force killing people photograph shown screen earlier submitted complaint footage violence police officers april protest campaign corruption slogan wake fed vote supported veterans launched government ministers requested legal opinion campaign electoral act campaign urges supporters votes vote smaller party archbishop emeritus welcomed campaign human rights activist describes campaign bring order morality electoral system opinion piece day leader announced lawyers acting behalf opposition parties concerned credibility general election approach following refusal agree resignation public protector found involved building irregularities report published august subsequent review published march supported findings days election postponed inquiry conduct june able rule matter election date june recommended removal office financial misconduct resigned september unsuccessful application leave appeal ruling april lodged complaint banned election campaign television titled time economic freedom aired occasions days complaint lodged day complaint lodged days complaint lodged upheld ban found wording physically destroying contentious tolls violence regulations party election broadcasts highlighted police brutality interviews photographs related massacre photograph march protest ordered removed days election parliamentary committee set consider response final report referred parliament formed election citing insufficient time available election date days election spoke scandal media briefing saying issue media opposition bright people clever people issue voters day election reported ambushed election campaign posters matching posters spokesperson said campaign hoped political parties include animal rights cost secretive nature political funding south_africa generally little public information exists sources political funding south african political parties nature expenses ruling declare elections expensive election fought date according leaked sources elections cost million expenses include million campaign shirts million manifesto launch million advertising including million posters billboards million victory rally million volunteers voting international special votes south registered participate national election international voting phase took place international voting stations april international voting station los_angeles closed international votes south_africa combined single voting district counted million cover cost ballot papers overseas local special votes local special vote phase election took place physically disabled pregnant unable vote voting station polling day president cast special vote attending world economic forum meeting nigeria polling day voting day voting took place relatively smoothly voting stations south_africa reported voting stations opened later scheduled opening time voting stations operational voting stations closed counting began newly designed template time national election allowing blind voters vote independently time previous elections blind voters communicate choice party voting official filled ballot sheet behalf incidents voting day people arrested election related offences primarily voter intimidation number voters ignored new legislation prohibiting photographs marked ballot papers including local celebrity voting station temporarily closed argument broke members accused vote rigging voting station opened later afternoon supporter fatally shot supporter near voting station year old charged murder saw bail application june alleged shooting took place supporters walking past tent case set continue july results decided exclude votes voting station near staff voting station attacked close voting security ballot assured final results announced parliament consists members nominated provincial legislature proportion party membership provincial legislature provincial delegation consists permanent delegates nominated term lasts new provincial legislature elected special delegates special delegates province premier member provincial legislature designated premier special delegates designated hoc provincial legislature provincial provincial results election won majority provincial came second came second provinces came reactions domestic political supporters gathered celebrate party results dedicated victory requested depth analysis election results provincial election team spokesperson said concerned drop support elections leader published press release south african voted said voters responded positively campaign saying look undoubtedly biggest best campaign run economic freedom fighters commander chief dedicated result girls kidnapped kidnapping saying looks impossible proved looks impossible possible supporters gathered celebrate results leader said statement despite low polls managed retain fourth place position elections thanked south voted stated proud serve south_africa parties candidates contested election expressed disappointment poor performance stated proud party achieved parliamentary representation despite formed months prior election expressed disappointment grow share vote grateful able retain support compared parties election international recognised states africa president dos congratulated president said election results reaffirmed wish south maintain status quo president said extend president party election president congratulated president victory describing deserved tribute president congratulated election saying mark confidence leadership provided people south_africa strong determination conviction making south_africa beacon hope success africa world stated proud partnership countries hoped continue improve ambassador south_africa told president agrees south_africa good story tell celebrate years democracy president congratulated president victory commended south peaceful conduct election americas united_states secretary state congratulated south_africa elections press release voting concluded results released president barack_obama congratulated telephone conversation europe president sent message election read hope joint efforts help enhance cooperation benefit countries united_kingdom foreign secretary congratulated south_africa successful elections stated continue good relations south_africa middle_east asia king congratulated election second term governance spokesperson congratulated south_africa elections press briefing said china paid great attention elections china continue view relations south_africa priority foreign policy indian president congratulated election said hoped relations india south_africa grow strength strength king jordan congratulated expressed commitment improve relations jordan south_africa ambassador south_africa congratulated president successful elections president congratulated elections wished peace prosperity south leadership president congratulated victory saying showed popularity party states limited recognition congratulated victory saying result election showed south african citizens spoken minds president conveyed best wishes behalf people government organisations united_nations secretary general applauded high voter turnout elections south african citizens willingness participate democratic system country fought observer mission deputy head fall reported elections fair parties electoral rules said general political electoral environment generally peaceful country voters able exercise right vote said statement guided principles concludes peaceful free fair transparent credible reflecting people south_africa said south african elections example continent africa saying process like process taking place south_africa tremendous boost spread democracy rest continent media bbc said massive change elections compared previous years said increase representation opposition parties provide great political entertainment aftermath economic south african grew dollar reaching highest level months following day trading strongly preliminary results showed defeat left wing policies worried investors political june presidency issued statement saying admitted hospital tests following demanding election transition programme doctors satisfied condition advised rest days following internal conflict party leader announced withdrawal politics day controversies dumped votes reported dumped ballots voting district found according reports majority dumped votes expressed concerns incident reporters national operations centre saying certainly public confidence free fair election party agents voting station confirmed votes counted party agent tweeted party agent votes counted recorded dumped stated looking incident violence violence broke residents found ballot boxes dumped area office damaged officials stormed office held members hostage realised lost previous voting districts office situated multi purpose centre offices rubber bullets grenades disperse violent protest people demanding release suspects arrested previous day members called bring situation control people arrested public violence protest
South African general election, 2014