THE LOWLY NEWSPAPERMAN: When big parties fail, SA has smaller options — and it’s not a wasted vote

When big parties struggle, South Africa has alternative options, and it's not a wasted vote. The existence of smaller parties contributes to a healthier democracy. In recent elections, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany performed exceptionally well, securing nearly 44% of the vote. A few months ago in Britain, a similar populist party, Reform UK, outperformed the governing Labour Party and opposition Conservatives.

Currently, polling suggests that a smaller party with limited MPs could potentially form a government. France’s National Front, once on the margins, now has a strong chance at the presidency and leads the largest bloc in parliament.

In South Africa, there is a common belief that supporting smaller parties is a waste of votes. This perspective has been promoted by both the ANC and the DA. During the ANC's majority years, they discouraged voters from supporting smaller parties to prevent them from gaining leverage against the ruling party. Meanwhile, the DA feared that fragmentation in opposition ranks would weaken their project of building an alternative to the ANC. Both parties argued that voters should support their parties to effect change in their communities.

However, history has shown that smaller parties have played a crucial role in tilting the balance of power. Over the years, splinter groups and disengagement from formal politics have led to the decline of the ANC, from a majority of over 60% to a current 40%. Despite this decline, the DA has failed to capitalize on this opportunity.

With the ANC possibly dropping to around 30% by the 2029 general election, the DA believes that a realistic national target for themselves would be 25%. The decline of the ANC and the DA's inability to capitalize on this presents an opportunity for smaller parties to grow and add value to the political landscape.