As the sun set, large numbers of voters were seen waiting patiently in a long queue at Kopanong Secondary School in Turflaagte, Bloemfontein, where they voted for the parties of their choice in the provincial and national elections held on Wednesday, May 29. Photo: Teboho Setena
Only six of the 38 political parties have secured seats in the Free State legislature after a fierce battle during the 2024 national and provincial elections held on Wednesday, May 29.
The two independent candidates Sesing Johannes Ramotswabodi and Louis Petrus Liebenberg were unsuccessful in their efforts.
The parties, including the two independents, vied for the 30 available seats in the provincial legislature, with their fate decided by some of the approximately 1.4 million eligible registered voters who cast ballots on Wednesday. Voting took place at the 129 polling stations in the province.
The following parties managed to secure several seats: the ANC (16 seats), DA (seven seats) and EFF (four seats). The FF Plus, ACT and MK each gained one seat.
The ANC will continue to govern the Free State as decided by voters, but with a reduced number of seats compared to the 19 seats in the previous 2019 period.
The DA gained one seat, while both the EFF and FF Plus retained their respective number of seats from the previous term.
The five political parties will form the opposition to the ruling ANC, which will govern without a coalition.
In the Free State, there were eleven newly formed parties that had registered to participate in this year’s provincial elections.
Of these newly formed parties, some had registered to contest in the Free State and the Northern Cape, while the larger parties such as the ANC, DA, EFF, Cope and the PA participated nationally.
The six parties that secured their seats in the provincial legislature are expected to announce their representatives soon.
Teboho Setena
www.news24.com
