List of political parties in South Africa

This is a list of political parties in South Africa. For most of its history, South Africa has been a democratic but one-party dominant state with the African National Congress (ANC) as the governing party, though this has waned as of 2024. The Democratic Alliance (DA) governs the Western Cape Province and a number of municipalities, some in coalitions with smaller parties. The Inkatha Freedom Party, ANC, DA and National Freedom Party have governed KwaZulu-Natal Province since 2024 in a Government of Provincial Unity.

Parliamentary parties

Main article: 2024 South African general election § Results

Name		Abbr.	Leader	Est.	Main Ideologies	Political position	National Assembly	NCOP	Provincial legislatures	Municipal council seats
	African National Congress	ANC	Cyril Ramaphosa	1912	African nationalism Social democracy	Centre-left	159 / 400	43 / 90	224 / 487	4,549 / 8,794
	Democratic Alliance	DA	John Steenhuisen	2000	Liberalism Federalism	Centre	87 / 400	21 / 90	97 / 487	1,494 / 8,794
	uMkhonto weSizwe English: Spear of the Nation	MK	Jacob Zuma	2023	Zulu nationalism Socialism Social conservatism	Left-wing	58 / 400	9 / 90	58 / 487	0 / 8,794
	Economic Freedom Fighters	EFF	Julius Malema	2013	Communism Pan-Africanism	Far-left	39 / 400	10 / 90	54 / 487	982 / 8,794
	Inkatha Freedom Party	IFP	Velenkosini Hlabisa	1975	Conservatism Constitutional monarchism	Right-wing	17 / 400	2 / 90	16 / 487	544 / 8,794
	Patriotic Alliance	PA	Gayton McKenzie	2013	Right-wing populism	Right-wing to far-right	9 / 400	2 / 90	10 / 487	85 / 8,794
	Freedom Front Plus	VF+	Pieter Groenewald	1994	Conservatism Afrikaner interests	Right-wing	6 / 400	2 / 90	9 / 487	221 / 8,794
	ActionSA	ACTIONSA	Herman Mashaba	2020	Classical liberalism Libertarianism	Centre-right	6 / 400	1 / 90	5 / 487	90 / 8,974
	African Christian Democratic Party	ACDP	Kenneth Meshoe	1993	Christian democracy Social conservatism	Centre-right to right-wing	3 / 400	0 / 90	2 / 487	49 / 8,794
	United Democratic Movement	UDM	Bantu Holomisa	1997	Social democracy	Centre-left	3 / 400	1 / 90	3 / 487	51 / 8,794
	Rise Mzansi	RISE	Songezo Zibi	2023	Third Way	Centre-left	2 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	0 / 8,794
	Build One South Africa	BOSA	Mmusi Maimane	2022	Liberalism	Centre	2 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	0 / 8,794
	African Transformation Movement	ATM	Vuyolwethu Zungula	2018	Christian democracy Conservatism	Centre-right	2 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	53 / 8,794
	Al Jama-ah	ALJAMA	Ganief Hendricks	2007	Islamic democracy	Left-wing (fiscal) Right-wing (social)	2 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	12 / 8,794
	National Coloured Congress	CCC	Fadiel Adams	2020	Localism Cape independence		2 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	8 / 8,794
	Pan Africanist Congress of Azania	PAC	Mzwanele Nyhontso	1959	African socialism Black nationalism	Left-wing	1 / 400	0 / 90	0 / 487	21 / 8,794
	United Africans Transformation	UAT	Wonder Mahlatsi	2022	Pan-Africanism Socialism	Left-wing	1 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	0 / 8,794
	Good	GOOD	Patricia de Lille	2018	Social liberalism	Centre-left	1 / 400	0 / 90	1 / 487	45 / 8,794

Other parties with representation

Name		Abbrev.	Leader	Founded	Main Ideologies	Political position	Municipal council seats
	National Freedom Party	NFP	Ivan Rowan Barnes	2011	Egalitarianism Social democracy	Centre-left	52 / 8,794
	African Independent Congress	AIC	Mandla Galo	2005	Social conservatism	Centre-right	43 / 8,794
	Forum for Service Delivery	F4SD	Mbahare Johannes Kekana	2015			32 / 8,646
	Abantu Batho Congress	ABC	Philani Mavundla	2021			25 / 8,794
	MAP16 Civic Movement	MAP16		2018			20 / 8,794
	Congress of the People	COPE	Mosiuoa Lekota	2008	Social democracy Social liberalism	Centre-left	13 / 8,794
	Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa	ICOSA	Jeffrey Donson	2006			8 / 8,794
	African People's Convention	APC	Themba Godi	2007	African nationalism Pan-Africanism	Left-wing	14 / 8,794
	African People's Movement	APEMO	Vikizitha Mlotshwa			Centre-left	[1]
	United Christian Democratic Party	UCDP	Isaac Sipho Mfundisi	1997	Christian democracy Federalism	Centre-right	6 / 8,794
	Team Sugar South Africa	TSSA	Musa Thwala	2019		Far-left	7 / 8,794
	Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners English: Concerned Local Residents	PBI	Isaac Sipho Mfundisi	2016	Anti-corruption		6 / 8,794
	Bolsheviks Party of South Africa	BPSA	Fanie Mogotji	2016	Marxism–Leninism	Far-left	4 / 8,794
	United Independent Movement	UIM	Neil de Beer	2020	Centrism	Centre-right	4 / 8,794
	African Democratic Change	ADeC	Visvin Reddy	2017	Anti-corruption		3 / 8,794
	Better Residents Association	BRA	Delta Mokoena (imprisoned)	2011	Localism		3 / 8,794
	Azanian People's Organisation	AZAPO	Strike Thokoane	1978	Black Consciousness Socialism	Left-wing to far-left	2 / 8,794
	Democratic Liberal Congress	DLC	Patrick Pillay	2016	Liberalism Environmentalism	Centre	2 / 8,794
	International Revelation Congress	IRC	Te Mammba[2]	2013	Social conservatism Social welfare		2 / 8,794
	Power of Africans Unity	PAU	Julius Nsingwane	2016			2 / 8,794
	South African Maintenance and Estate Beneficiaries Association	SAMEBA	Makgorometse Gift Makhaba	2014			2 / 8,794
	Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats	AASD	Pappie Mokoena	2019	Social democracy Pan-Africanism	Centre-left	2 / 8,794
	Africa Restoration Alliance	ARA	Jerome Swartz	2020			2 / 8,794
	Minority Front	MF	Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi	1993	Indian interests		1 / 8,794
	People's Revolutionary Movement	PRM	Nhlanhla Buthelezi	2016	Social conservatism National conservatism	Left-wing (fiscal) Right-wing (social)	1 / 8,794
	Cape Independence Party	CAPEXIT	Jack Miller	2007	Cape independence Direct democracy		1 / 8,794
	National People's Front	NAPF	Bheki Gumbi	2018			1 / 8,794

Extra-parliamentary parties

• #Hope4SA
• Africa Muslim Party (AMP)
• African Change Academy
• African Christian Alliance (ACA)^[3]
• African Congress for Transformation
• African Content Movement (ACM)
• African Covenant (ACO)
• African Mantungwa Community (AC)
• African Renaissance Unity (ARU)
• African Security Congress (ASC)
• Afrikaner Volksparty^[4]
• Agang South Africa
• All Things Are Possible
• Alliance for Transformation for All (ATA)
• Alliance of Citizens for Change (ACC)
• Arise SA
• Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB)
• Black First Land First (BLF)
• Cape Muslim Congress (CMC)
• Capitalist Party of South Africa (ZACP)
• CHANGE (CHANGE)^[5]
• Christian Democratic Party (CDP)
• Civic Warriors of Maruleng (CWM)
• Compatriots of South Africa (CSA)
• Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front (DPF)
• Dagga Party (IQELA LE)^[6]
• Democratic Independent Party (DI)
• Dikwankwetla Party (DPSA)
• Economic Emancipation Forum (EEF)
• ECOPEACE Party (ECOPEACE)
• Federal Party SA (FPSA)^[7]
• Free Democrats (FREE DEM)
• Gazankulu Liberation Congress (GLC)
• Green Party of South Africa (GPSA) ^[8]
• Karoo Democratic Force (KDF)^[9]
• Karoo Gemeenskap Party (KGP)
• Keep It Straight and Simple Party (KISS Party)
• Kingdom Governance Movement
• Labour Party
• Land Party (LAND)
• National Conservative Party of South Africa (NKP)
• National Party South Africa (NP)
• National People's Ambassadors (NPA)
• National Religious Freedom Party (NRFP)
• New South Africa Party
• Operation Dudula
• Organic Humanity Movement (OHM)^[10]
• Pan Africanist Movement (PAM)
• Peace and Justice Congress (PJC)
• People's Movement for Change (PMC)
• Referendum Party (RP)
• Socialist Green Coalition (SGC)^[11]
• Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP)
• South African Communist Party (SACP) – part of the ANC-led "Tripartite Alliance"
• South African National Congress of Traditional Authorities (SANCOTA)
• South African Political Party (SAPP)
• South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA)
• Spectrum National Party (SNP)
• Sterkspruit Civic Association (SCA)
• The Peoples Independent Civic Organisation (TPICO)
• True Freedom Party^[12]
• Truly Alliance (TA)^[13]
• United Congress (UNICO)
• Uniting People First
• Us the People (US)^[14]
• Women Forward (WF)^[15]
• Workers and Socialist Party (WASP)
• Xiluva
• Ximoko Party (XP)

Defunct parties

Defunct Parliamentary Parties (1994 – Present)

Name		Abbrev.	Founded	Dissolved	Main Ideologies	Peak MPs (year)
	Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging English: Afrikaner Unity Movement	AEB	1998	2003	Afrikaner nationalism Conservatism	1 (1999)
	Democratic Party Afrikaans: Demokratiese Party	DP	1989	2000	Conservative liberalism Economic liberalism	38 (1999)
	Federal Alliance Afrikaans: Federale Alliansie	FA	1998	2007	Conservatism Libertarianism	2 (1999)
	Independent Democrats	ID	2003	2014	Populism Social liberalism	7 (2004)
	National Party Afrikaans: Nasionale Party	NP	1914	1997	Christian democracy Conservative liberalism	82 (1994)
	New National Party Afrikaans: Nuwe Nasionale Party	NNP	1997	2005	Civic nationalism Conservatism	28 (1999)

Defunct Parliamentary Parties (1958–1994)

Name		Abbrev.	Founded	Dissolved	Main Ideologies
	Conservative Party Afrikaans: Konserwatiewe Party	KP	1982	2004	Afrikaner nationalism Social conservatism
	Labour Party Afrikaans: Arbeidersparty	AP	1969	1994	Coloured people's rights Anti-apartheid Labourism Social democracy
	National Union Afrikaans: Nasionale Unie	NU	1960	1966	Centrism Social conservatism
	New Republic Party Afrikaans: Nuwe Republiekparty	NRP	1977	1988	Conservatism Consociationalism
	Progressive Federal Party Afrikaans: Progressiewe Federale Party	PFP	1977	1989	Anti-racism Liberalism
	Progressive Party Afrikaans: Progressiewe Party	PP	1959	1975	Anti-racism Liberalism
	South African Party Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Party	SAP	1977	1980	Conservatism Federalism
	United Party Afrikaans: Verenigde Party	UP	1934	1977	Conservative liberalism Monarchism

Defunct Parliamentary Parties (1910–1958)

Name		Abbrev.	Founded	Dissolved	Main Ideologies
	Afrikaner Party Afrikaans: Afrikanerparty	AP	1941	1951	Afrikaner nationalism Conservatism
	Dominion Party Afrikaans: Dominiumparty	DP	1934	1948	Conservatism Monarchism
	Herenigde Nasionale Party English: Reunited National Party	HNP	1940	1948	Afrikaner nationalism Social conservatism
	Labour Party Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Arbeidersparty	LP	1910	1958	Democratic socialism Social democracy
	Purified National Party Afrikaans: Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party	GNP	1935	1940	Afrikaner nationalism Social conservatism
	Roos Party	RP	1929	1935	Afrikaner nationalism Monetary reform
	Socialist League	SP	1915	1921	Socialism
	Socialist Party	SP	1938	1948	Democratic socialism Social democracy
	South African Party Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Party Dutch: Zuidafrikaanse Partij	SAP	1910	1934	Afrikaner nationalism Liberal conservatism
	Unionist Party Afrikaans: Unionisteparty	UP	1910	1920	Monarchism Protectionism

Other Defunct parties

• Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party (1994–?)
• Boerestaat Party (BSP)
• Christen Party/Christian Party (2005–?)
• Christian Democratic Alliance (?–2009)
• Christian Front (CF)^[16] (???–2014)
• Democratic Left Front (2011–2015)
• Democratic Party (DP; 1973–1977)
• Dominion Party (1934–1948)
• Federation of Democrats (2005–?)
• Front Nasionaal (FN; 2013–2020) (previously Federale Vryheidsparty)^[17]
• Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP)
• Khoisan Aboriginal and Others Movement (2008–?)
• Liberal Party of South Africa (1953–1968)
• Nasionale Aksie (NA; 2003–2004)
• National Alliance (NA; 2009)^[18]
• National Democratic Convention (NADECO; 2005–2009)
• National People's Party (NPP; 2007–2016)^[19]
• New Labour Party (NLP; 2004–2009)
• Pro-death Penalty Party (2004?)
• Progressive Reform Party (1975–1977)
• Reform Party (1975–1975)
• Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA; 1998–2014)
• South African Business Party (SABP; ?–2012)
• South African Democratic Congress (Sadeco; 2008–2011)
• Ubuntu Party (2012–2020)
• United Independent Front (UIF; 2005–2010)
• Workers Organisation for Socialist Action (WOSA; 1990–?)

See also

• Politics of South Africa
• List of political parties by country

References

1. Sussman, Wayne (3 February 2022). "Resilient NFP makes sufficient KZN gains to worry slumping ANC and IFP". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
2. "message by mammba – International Revelation Congress". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
3. Westhuizen, Pieter van der. "ACA Party". Acaparty.org.za. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
4. "Tuisblad – Afrikanervolksparty". afrikanervolksparty.org. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
5. "CHANGE". Retrieved 8 May 2021.
6. "Welcome to the Dagga Party Official Website". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
7. "Home". federalpartysa.github.io.
8. "Green Party of South Africa". Archived from the original on 1 January 2019.
9. Ludidi, Velani (16 April 2024). "Five parties ally with Gayton McKenzie's PA to take on DA in Western Cape". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
10. "The OHM". www.organichumanitymovement.org. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
11. "Socialist Green Coalition". Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
12. "True Freedom Party | True Freedom Party". Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
13. "Home". trulyalliance.org.za. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
14. "A Young Party by Young People!". www.dailysun.co.za. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
15. http://www.womenforward.org.za ^{[permanent dead link‍]}
16. "Five parties deregistered by IEC". Times LIVE. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014. five parties – the Justice Party, the Real Congress, the United Democratic Civic Organisation, the Unemployed People's Party and the Christian Front – were deregistered
17. "Legal Notice No 37064". Government Gazette. 581 C. 29 November 2013.
18. "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
19. "NPP | Home". Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.

External links

• Independent Electoral Commission
• ANC's foes rise up
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: Political Parties in South Africa Archived 28 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine