2004 South African General Election
14 April 2004 · The democratic era · 400 seats, 201 for a majority
General elections were held in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 April 2004. The African National Congress (ANC) of President Thabo Mbeki, which came to power after the end of the apartheid system in 1994, was re-elected with an increased majority.
Government leader before
Thabo Mbeki
ANC
Government leader (continued)
Thabo Mbeki
ANC
Largest force
African National Congress
279 of 400 seats
Turnout
76.7%
The result
| Share of the Assembly | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African National Congress | — | 279 | +13 | 10 880 915 | 69.7% | — | |
| Democratic Alliance | Thabo Mbeki | 50 | +12 | 1 931 201 | 12.4% | +3.3 | |
| Inkatha Freedom Party | Mangosuthu Buthelezi | 28 | -6 | 1 088 664 | 7.0% | -1.6 | |
| United Democratic Movement | Bantu Holomisa | 9 | -5 | 355 717 | 2.3% | -1.1 | |
| Independent Democrats | Patricia de Lille | 7 | — | 269 765 | 1.7% | — | |
| New National Party | Marthinus van Schalkwyk | 7 | -21 | 257 824 | 1.6% | -5.2 | |
| African Christian Democratic Party | — | 7 | +1 | 250 272 | 1.6% | — | |
| Freedom Front Plus | — | 4 | +1 | 139 465 | 0.9% | — |
9 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.