According to the CSIR, at least six smaller parties (with less than 1% of the vote) are likely to gain seats in National Parliament.
The ACDP, UDM, ATM, GOOD, NRF, AIC and COPE are all projected to obtain sufficient national votes to obtain at least one seat or more.
This number almost mirrors the 2014 results, when 7 smaller parties with less than 1% of the total votes, gained seats.
However, some are showing potential signs of declining support (UDM and the NRF), while others are projected to do better than in 2014 (FF Plus).
Others will arrive as newcomers to National Parliament (GOOD and ATM).
There is still appetite for smaller parties among South African voters. However, if voters perceive after a round or two in legislatures that small parties have become irrelevant, they lose support.
Collette Schulz-Herzenberg
