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

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African National Congress

69.7% of votes · +13 seats

279

seats

Democratic Alliance

Thabo Mbeki · 12.4% of votes · +12 seats

seats

Inkatha Freedom Party

Mangosuthu Buthelezi · 7.0% of votes · -6 seats

seats

United Democratic Movement

Bantu Holomisa · 2.3% of votes · -5 seats

seats

Independent Democrats

Patricia de Lille · 1.7% of votes

seats

New National Party

Marthinus van Schalkwyk · 1.6% of votes · -21 seats

seats

African Christian Democratic Party

1.6% of votes · +1 seats

seats

Freedom Front Plus

0.9% of votes · +1 seats

seats


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.