Three extra evenings of In Gesprek to focus on the election
On 29 May, South African voters will head to the polls for the country’s seventh democratic election. To keep viewers informed, In Gesprek will keep a finger on the pulse and will be broadcasting for three consecutive days at 21:00 – the day before the election, election day and the day after the election. Lourensa Eckard is the presenter, and studio guests include Dawie Boonzaaier (Rapport), Pieter du Toit (News24), Dr Piet Croucamp (NWU), Prof Theo Venter (UJ) and Ebrahim Fakir (ASRI: Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute).
On Tuesday 28 May, political experts will discuss the election in the studio, and a team will be at the results centre of the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) to find out how prepared they are for the election.
On Wednesday 29 May, there will be teams in the field in various provinces asking voters to share their opinions. Studio guests will provide their insights on how the election is unfolding, and there will be another team at the IEC’s results centre with the latest news.
On Thursday 30 May, studio guests will analyse the results, and there will be reports from the IEC’s results centre.
Lourensa, what can viewers expect?
In-depth analysis of the day’s biggest events by some of the country’s foremost experts. The In Gesprek team will report from Gauteng, the Western Cape, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal to keep viewers informed of any political upheavals before, on and after election day.
What makes this election day different from previous years?
The unpredictability. The results of opinion polls are changing almost daily, and we won’t really know until South Africa has voted on 29 May. Another thing that makes this year different is the huge number of political parties on the ballot. The biggest number yet.
What is your first memory of election day?
I first voted in 2009, and it was so exciting. That year, I also visited the national results centre of the IEC as a journalism student. The atmosphere certainly ignited something in me that inspired me to become a political journalist. I’ve reported on every election day since, and it’s just the most exciting time because it remains a privilege to live in a democratic country.
If you could be the minister of any portfolio, what would it be and why?
Most definitely not finance! I would like to be the minister of sport because then I could attend all the major sports events around the world.
What is your personal hope for this year’s election?
For a peaceful and fair election.
Waldimar Pelser, M-Net Director: Premium Channels, agrees that this year’s elections are among the most important in the history of our democracy.
“The results of the 2024 elections will determine which parties will be in a position to form governments in the nine provinces and nationally after 29 May. For the first time since 1994, it looks like coalitions may come to power in more than just towns and cities. This time, cooperation agreements are looming in at least two major provinces. There is also a real possibility that no party will get more than 50% of the vote at the national level.”
“kykNET wants to ensure our viewers get the best analysis leading up to the election, on election day itself, and when the first results come in. That’s why In Gesprek with Lourensa Eckard will be on air for the first time on four consecutive evenings during election week: Monday at 20:30 for the usual hour, Tuesday evening before and Wednesday evening on election day at 21:00 for half an hour, and Thursday evening at 21:00 for a solid hour to look at results and to try and find the first signs of coalition talks.”
In Gesprek will air on 28, 29 and 30 May at 21:00 on kykNET (DStv channel 144).
