Klerksdorp Rekord, Klerksdorp - Just more than 55% of voters in the Matlosana voting district went out to make their mark in the national election last week.
With the final results declared on Sunday evening June 2, the African National Congress (ANC) achieved just over 40% support nationally, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with almost 22%, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secured 14.59% and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 9.5%.
In North West the voter turnout was 58,64%. The EFF maintained its opposition party status in the province, garnering 17,37% of the votes.
The ANC won the province with 57.73% and the DA got third most votes of 13,24%.
As expected, the ANC won Matlosana with 53,71%, much lower than a decade ago when they won comfortably with 66% votes. The DA is still the official opposition with a tally of 22,28% votes, showing growth from 16,38% in 2019. The EFF garnered 11,87% of the votes, showing almost no growth since the last election in 2019. The Freedom Front Plus was the biggest loser, securing 4,04% of the votes against last elections’ 7,42%.
Parties like MK secured 1,98% of the votes and Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance received 1,87% of the votes.
Local voters were happy to stand in long queues on election day to make their mark. At the voting station at Laerskool Meiringspark Natalie Eloff said she was glad to make her mark to make chances better for the country to heal all the corruption. “It will be lovely to drive on roads without shaking all over."
The IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said these were landmark elections. He praised South Africans and the thousands of IEC officials for conducting a free and fair election.
The national voter turnout in the election was 58.61%. Just over 16-million South Africans voted in the 2024 election.
“This moment is a triumph for our democracy, a victory for the principles of transparency, a measure that we can reflect on even as we take stock of accountability and the rule of law in our land. Let us celebrate this achievement while remaining vigilant, for the work of strengthening democracy is one that truly never ends. Together, we must continue to build a nation that serves as a beacon of hope.”
