ZeroFox Intelligence Brief - Competitive South African Elections Bring Physical and Cyber Risks

Product Serial: B-2024-05-22a

TLP:CLEAR

In this Intelligence Brief, ZeroFox geopolitical researchers analyze the upcoming South African elections, including potential physical security risks and cyber influence campaigns that come with an especially competitive election.

Standing Intelligence Requirements

Geopolitical and Physical GEO

For the most up-to-date list of ZeroFox’s Intelligence Requirements, please visit:

https://cloud.zerofox.com/intelligence/advisories/14956

Link to Download

View the full report here.

Executive Summary

Post-independence South Africa is set to have its most competitive elections ever on May 29, 2024. The African National Congress (ANC) Party, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, is highly likely to lose its majority for the first time. Without a majority, the ANC will need to form a coalition to continue leading the government, which has made this campaign season especially contentious. Political parties hoping for the opportunity to make it into the government are likely escalating their campaign rhetoric online and threatening violence. After 30 years of controlling the government virtually unchallenged, the ANC will have difficulty forming a coalition with any of the main opposition parties and is campaigning similarly to maintain as large a share of the vote as possible.