Political parties vow to respect electoral code of conduct ahead of elections

Charles Molele

Promises of a better life for all, the return of land and a bright, beautiful ‘socialist future’ were some of the key messages from political parties contesting the 2019 general elections.

If anything, the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct Pledge on Wednesday showed that the 2019 general elections will be the largest democratic exercise ever in South Africa – a record 48 political parties are registered with the Independent Electoral Commission to contest the general elections on 8 May.

Once thought to be a cakewalk for the ANC, the 2019 elections are turning into a major contest with new political parties such as the African Transformation Movement, the Black First Land First (BLF) and the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) pulling no punches to mobilize voters with their agitational brand of politics.

While the latest surveys show that the ANC will perform badly at the polls,