South Africa held its 5th democratic national and provincial elections on 7 May 2014. The 2014 National Elections held a special significance for South Africans as the year marks 20 Years of Freedom celebrating the first democratic elections on 27 April 1994.

According to the Independent Electorate Commission (IEC), the 2014 Election saw the highest number of registered voters in South Africa's history: 25.39 million. This is about 2.2 million more than were registered for the 2009 elections. This year, South Africans born after the first democratic elections in 1994 were eligible to vote for the first time.

South Africa has a good story to tell: Twenty years of free and fair elections. We celebrate this milestone; an opportunity to reflect on the journey we have travelled since 1994 in transforming the country, addressing inherited socio-economic challenges and working together as a nation and with our international friends towards Vision 2030.

With all votes counted, the African National Congress (ANC) secured a 62.2% share of the vote, the leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, secured 22.2%, and a brand new party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, came in third with 6.3%.

South Africans living abroad also registered in large numbers and casted their votes on the 30April 2014 at Diplomatic Missions all over the world.