African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)

Founded: 1993.

The African Christian Democratic Party is a South African party founded in 1993 that describes itself as standing for Christian principles, Judeo-Christian values and freedom of religion. Its 2024 national and provincial manifesto proposes an open market economy with a social conscience, protection of property rights with just and equitable compensation for expropriated land, phasing out of race-based policies, parental authority in education, repeal of the National Health Insurance legislation, and a federal system of government. For the 2026 local government elections it issued a separate manifesto on municipal service delivery, municipal finance and local economic development.

Official website: https://acdp.org.za/

Not yet reviewed by a human. These positions were placed by reading the sources below; each one links to the document it came from.

15 of 15 axes have a cited position. Axes without a published position are marked as such and are never scored.

Positions

Economy: state or market — +0.75

State-led: the state owns or directs key industries, sets prices and plans investment.Market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

Leaning towards: market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

The ACDP supports an open market economy with a social conscience. Our economic policies seek to address high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality, by growing the economy at a faster rate.

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Job Creation and Poverty Alleviation (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Land reform and expropriation — +1.50

Expropriation without compensation and state custodianship of land.Strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

Leaning towards: strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

Protect all property rights and ensure that just and equitable compensation is paid for any expropriated land

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Property Rights, Rural Development and Food Security (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

BEE and race-based redress — +1.50

Race-based redress expanded: BEE, employment equity and ownership targets enforced.Race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

Leaning towards: race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

End cadre deployment and race-based policies that have caused inflated prices and resulted in a “tender-preneur” economy

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Job Creation and Poverty Alleviation (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Labour market — +0.50

Strong worker protection: higher minimum wages, collective bargaining, limits on labour broking and dismissal.Flexible labour market: easier hiring and dismissal, fewer statutory protections, incentives for employers.

Between the two poles

Expand the Employment Tax Incentive for businesses to employ more people, particularly youth

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Job Creation and Poverty Alleviation (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Healthcare and NHI — +1.25

Universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided National Health Insurance with a smaller private sector.Private provision: medical schemes and market competition carry most of the system, with a smaller public role.

Leaning towards: private provision: medical schemes and market competition carry most of the system, with a smaller public role.

Repeal government’s proposed expropriation of private health care through the National Health Insurance legislation and launch a national dialogue on access to universal health care

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Health and Well-being (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Education — +1.50

State-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.Parental choice: independent schools, charter-type models and market mechanisms in education.

Leaning towards: parental choice: independent schools, charter-type models and market mechanisms in education.

Repeal the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) provisions relating to home-schooling, the closing of rural schools, criminalisation of parents, limitation of the powers of School Governing Bodies (SGBs), and ministerial over-reach which infringes on the rights of parents

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Education and Skills Development (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Crime and policing — +1.25

Enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.Prevention-first: community policing, restorative justice, and civil-liberties safeguards.

Leaning towards: prevention-first: community policing, restorative justice, and civil-liberties safeguards.

Review the parole system and deny bail for certain categories of crime such as murder, rape, armed robbery and car hijacking

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Crime and Justice (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Immigration — -1.00

Restrictive: tighter borders, limits on foreign nationals, deportation of undocumented migrants.Open: freer movement, rights for migrants, and regional integration.

Leaning towards: restrictive: tighter borders, limits on foreign nationals, deportation of undocumented migrants.

The ACDP asserts that South Africa cannot afford an unmanaged or ineffective immigration system. ... Government has a responsibility to secure the country’s borders, administer immigration laws effectively, and ensure that those entering and residing in South Africa do so lawfully.

ACDP calls for the rule of law to prevail on immigration and public protest (party_document, 2026-06-26; accessed 2026-10-18)

Energy and climate — +0.75

Rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.Energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Leaning towards: energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Prioritise high grade coal and clean coal technology for our coal-fired power stations ... Support increased renewable energy (including wind and solar power) with independent power producers playing a far greater role in generating much needed additional energy

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Keeping the Lights On and Our Trains and Ships Moving (Eskom) (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Federalism and devolution — +1.50

Centralised: a unitary state where national government sets policy and lower tiers have limited discretion.Devolved or federal: more powers, budgets and discretion for provinces and municipalities.

Leaning towards: devolved or federal: more powers, budgets and discretion for provinces and municipalities.

A genuine federal framework of government with original constitutional powers at the lowest possible level

Constitution of the African Christian Democratic Party (3 November 2022) , Founding Statement, 2.2.3 (constitution, 2022-11-03; accessed 2026-10-18)

Traditional leadership — -0.75

Expanded role: traditional leaders hold formal powers over governance, land and customary law.Limited role: elected structures and individual constitutional rights take precedence over customary authority.

Leaning towards: expanded role: traditional leaders hold formal powers over governance, land and customary law.

Ensure that the ownership of tribal or trust land is negotiated between the relevant traditional authority and the community in order to extend land ownership for the benefit of everyone connected to the land

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Property Rights, Rural Development and Food Security (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Social values — -1.75

Conservative: law reflects religious or traditional morality, with narrower reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.Liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

Conservative: law reflects religious or traditional morality, with narrower reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

The ACDP will accelerate moral regeneration by amending liberal and humanistic policies and legislation that have systematically undermined family values. Legislation that grants access to contraceptives and abortion for young girls without parental consent, teaches Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and gender ideology, bans moderate parental chastisement, and legalises prostitution, pornography and abortion-on-demand, will be amended.

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Family Values and Moral Regeneration (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Foreign policy — +1.00

Non-aligned and Global South: closer ties with BRICS, Russia, China and Palestine, with distance from Western powers.Western-aligned: closer ties with the United States, the European Union and other liberal democracies.

Leaning towards: western-aligned: closer ties with the united states, the european union and other liberal democracies.

The ACDP will re-establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, move the South African Embassy to Jerusalem, and given the recent horrific terrorist attack on Israel and the broader ongoing conflict, work towards finding lasting peace in the Middle East, while ensuring that Israel’s security and right to defend itself is not compromised.

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , On Israel (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Anti-corruption and governance — -1.50

Expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.Smaller state machinery: fewer new bodies and regulations, with corruption handled through existing criminal law and the courts.

Expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.

Establish an independent specialised anti-corruption entity, with prosecutor-driven investigations, possibly even a new Chapter 9 anti-corruption institution that is fully resourced and has trained staff with secure tenure of office (similar to the disbanded Scorpions)

2024 National and Provincial Elections Manifesto , Crime and Justice (manifesto, 2024-03-09; accessed 2026-10-18)

Local service delivery — +1.00

Centralised delivery: national standards and national or provincial intervention where councils fail.Municipal self-reliance: councils and communities decide, with private or community providers used where they work better.

Leaning towards: municipal self-reliance: councils and communities decide, with private or community providers used where they work better.

Consider moving Metrorail from PRASA where municipal capacity exists to build a locally managed, safe and integrated rail service that fits seamlessly into other public networks through a one-ticket commuting service

2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto , Roads, Transport and Infrastructure (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)