The next South African general election will be held by 2029 to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province of South Africa. They will be the eighth elections held under the conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994.
Date The South African Constitution mandates that national and provincial general elections must be held at least once every five years. Specifically, the elections must take place within 90 days of the date the National Assembly's five-year term expires or is dissolved. The most recent general election was held on 29 May 2024. This means the next general election for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures is constitutionally due to occur by 26 August 2029.
Electoral system The electoral system used in the 2029 election is expected to change based on the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel. The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel established by Parliament recommended reducing the size of the current provincial constituencies into smaller multi-member, or single-member constituencies to bring representatives closer to voters while maintaining a compensatory list to ensure overall proportionality of results.
Opinion polls
Polling OrganisationFieldwork DateSampleSizeMargin of ErrorANCDAMKEFFIFPPAASAOthersDon'tKnowLead IpsosDecember 2025 - January 20263,6001.9%33%22%10%11%2%2%10%12%11Social Research FoundationJune 20251,0044%40%26%18%3%3%3%14IRRMarch - April 2025807~4%29.7%30.3%15.9%10.2%1.7%0.6Social Research FoundationFebruary 20251,0044%32%25%12%6%3%3%7The Brenthurst FoundationFebruary - March 20253,8372%43%27%11%7%2%3%2%5%16IRRSeptember - October 202441.3%22.3%11.6%6.9%5.5%19Social Research FoundationSeptember 20241,2043%45%24%12%6%5%5%212024 general election40.1%21.8%14.5%9.5%3.8%2%1.2%18.3
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