VF+ staged to build on recent gains

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching its 2024 general election campaign at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria on Saturday, 2 March 2024.

The party, which registered as a political entity on 4 March 1994 just before South Africa’s first democratic elections, emphasized its growth and evolution over the past three decades.

Founded in 1994, the FF+ initially focused on advocating for an Afrikaner homeland. But as the balance of forces overwhelmed this option’s possibility, the party shifted its focus to promoting the cultural rights of Afrikaners and engaging in coalition politics to challenge the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The party’s electoral performance has been notable, with steady growth and strategic gains. In the 2019 general election, the FF+ experienced a significant surge, increasing its support base and parliamentary representation. The party’s success has been attributed to several factors, including its focused messaging, sufficient resources, and timely alignment with key national debates.

Across the four Metropolitan municipalities of Cape Town, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg, the party has increased support by a whopping 65% on average in the past electoral cycle.

Looking ahead to the 2024 general election, the FF+ is poised for further success, aiming to capitalize on its momentum and attract more voters, particularly from the Democratic Alliance (DA). With a strong presence in key provinces and metros, the party is expected to continue its upward trajectory, appealing to conservative White and Coloured minority voters.

Their performance in recent by-elections, where they have displaced the DA in Matlosana, Mamusa and JB Marks municipalities, has followed this long-term trend. If current growth trends continue, the VF+ could see enough support to challenge the DA’s provincial dominance. And with other challengers in the PA, NCC and RP, the DA could well fall below the 50% mark, and be forced into coalition.

Having reaffirmed their support for Cape independence in their new manifesto, we may well be heading into a new era.

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