1994 South African General Election
The first free election26–29 April 1994 · The democratic era · 400 seats, 201 for a majority
General elections were held in South Africa between 26 and 29 April 1994. The elections were the first in South Africa in which citizens of all races could vote, bringing an end to the herrenvolk democracy that had existed since the 1950s and marking the country's first election under universal suffrage.
Government leader before
F. W. de Klerk
NP
Government leader after
Nelson Mandela
ANC
Largest force
African National Congress
252 of 400 seats
Turnout
86.9%
The result
| Share of the Assembly | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African National Congress | Nelson Mandela | 252 | — | 12 237 655 | 62.6% | — | |
| National Party | F. W. de Klerk | 82 | — | 3 983 690 | 20.4% | -27.8 | |
| Inkatha Freedom Party | Mangosuthu Buthelezi | 43 | — | 2 058 294 | 10.5% | — | |
| Freedom Front | — | 9 | — | 424 555 | 2.2% | — | |
| VF | Constand Viljoen | 9 | — | 424 555 | 2.2% | — | |
| Democratic Party | Zach de Beer | 7 | — | 338 426 | 1.7% | -18.3 | |
| Pan Africanist Congress | Clarence Makwetu | 5 | — | 243 478 | 1.3% | — | |
| African Christian Democratic Party | — | 2 | — | 88 104 | 0.5% | — |