# List of political parties in South Africa

This is a list of political parties in South Africa. For most of its recent history, South Africa has functioned as a democratic state but with a one-party dominant system, with the African National Congress (ANC) as the governing party. Following the 2024 general election this dominance has declined, as a result the country has been governed by a ten-member coalition called the Government of National Unity consisting of the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, and Rise Mzansi. The DA governs the Western Cape Province and a number of municipalities, some in coalitions with smaller parties.

## Parliamentary parties

| 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+ | Corné Mulder | 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 | |
| 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 | 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)
* 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
* 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 Starts Now (CSN)
* Christian Democratic Party (CDP)
* Civic Warriors of Maruleng (CWM)
* Compatriots of South Africa (CSA)
* Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front (DPF)
* Dagga Party (IQELA LE)
* Democratic Independent Party (DI)
* Dikwankwetla Party (DPSA)
* Economic Emancipation Forum (EEF)
* ECOPEACE Party (ECOPEACE)
* Federal Party SA (FPSA)
* Free Democrats (FREE DEM)
* Gazankulu Liberation Congress (GLC)
* Green Party of South Africa (GPSA)
* Karoo Democratic Force (KDF)
* 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)
* Pan Africanist Movement (PAM)
* Peace and Justice Congress (PJC)
* People's Movement for Change (PMC)
* Referendum Party (RP)
* Socialist Green Coalition (SGC)
* 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
* Truly Alliance (TA)
* United Congress (UNICO)
* Uniting People First
* Us the People (US)
* Women Forward (WF)
* 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) (???–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)
* 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)
* National Democratic Convention (NADECO; 2005–2009)
* National People's Party (NPP; 2007–2016)
* 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–?)