In South Africa’s first democratic poll in 1994, nineteen parties competed nationally and twenty-two at the provincial level.
As new political ideas form and breakaway groups or individuals split from mainstream parties, the IEC currently has more than 470 registered parties on its database.
Even if not all contest next year’s municipal elections, the continuous formation of new parties raises questions about their underlying motives.
eNCA’s Moloko Moloto has the story.
