South Africa's Ramaphosa Sets May 29 as Election Day

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that South Africa will hold pivotal national elections on May 29 as polls show the ruling African National Congress may lose its majority for the time since it came to power with the fall of apartheid 30 years ago.

Ramaphosa said that Africa's most developed economy faces many problems under his ANC party.

South Africa Announces 2024 Elections Date

(Photo : ESA ALEXANDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the state of the nation address at the City Hall in Cape Town on February 8, 2024.

Ramaphosa said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, "The 2024 elections coincide with South Africa's celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy."

The country had its first democratic elections in 1994 following the fall of the racial segregationist system of apartheid that had brutally oppressed Black and other non-white South Africans since 1948. The president claimed that beyond the fulfillment of their constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of their democratic journey and a determination of the future that they all desire.

The statement aligned with what he shared in his State of the Nation Address earlier this month, during which he emphasized the nation's progress over the past three decades and what role his governing party has played.

Ramaphosa seeks a second presidential term in a vote that could go down in history. Opinion polls indicate that opposition parties are gaining ground over his African National Congress (ANC) in several areas.

According to Al Jazeera, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are the main opposition parties. he ANC has ruled the country since 1994. However, the party is now struggling in the polls, and some analysts predict that this year will mark the first time it will receive lower than the 50% parliamentary majority it has won in previous elections.

South Africa Urges ICJ To Investigate Israel's Rafah Assault

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), a World Court based in The Hague, heard the opening of South Africa's historic case against Israel for its war on Gaza on Thursday. Pretoria is accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by committing the crime of genocide.

The South African team, led by international law expert and attorney John Dugard, stated in a three-hour presentation to the ICJ judges the horrific situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who are trapped under siege, bombarded by Israeli air strikes and attacked by a deadly Israeli military ground invasion.

The ICJ may take years to reach a final decision. However, the primary focus of this week's proceedings is South Africa's specific request for an emergency order to stop the ongoing killings and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the experts said a temporary sentence could be out in a few weeks.

Adila Hassim, one of the South African counsels, noted that while the court may decide to intervene if it determines that at least part of Israel's operations fall under the convention's definition, it is not required for it to decide on the genocide allegations at this time.