The IEC stays the course ahead of next year’s Local Government Elections

The Local Government Elections are set to take place in November 2021 and the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) is going full steam ahead. This is according to the IEC Mpumalanga’s communication officer, Sibusiso Nkosi.

He stressed that a number of municipalities in the province would be having by-elections next month. These include Govan Mbeki Ward 30, eMalahleni Ward 18 and 23, and Bushbuckridge Ward 31 and 36.

Of these, 21 voting districts with 31 044 voters will be affected. Voting stations will be open from 08:00 to 17:00 and
strict Covid-19 protocols will be adhered to.

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With regard to next year’s local government elections, Nkosi has affirmed that the IEC is ready and all logistics
surrounding the elections are in place.

“There are 400 wards in the province, with 1 747 voting districts, each with one local councillor and a proportional
representative councillor.
We expect to have an equal number of wards, but the process is not complete,” said Nkosi.

It is for this reason that the municipal demarcation board (MDB) has to allocate the wards. The IEC aligns all the voting districts to fall within a ward.

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“After that process is complete, we will know how many wards there are. The next step is to arrange the logistics which includes ensuring that each voting station in each district meets certain requirements,” he added.

This includes accessibility via roads, utilities, water, ablution facilities, cell phone reception and electricity. Prior to
this, a voter registration weekend is held where prospective voters can ensure that they are eligible to vote and that they reside in the correct ward.

“The IEC ensures that people are registered with the correct district, because they cannot vote in another district.

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After the voters’ roll is closed, on the day of proclamation, we ensure that if wards have been realigned by the MDB, everyone has had an opportunity to register.”

Nkosi pointed out that the voters’ roll is proclaimed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs, and a single date is decided on in order that everyone votes on the same date in all provinces.

Once the election date has been proclaimed and the electoral timetable is set, the organisation sets about creating
milestones and due dates for each to be reached.

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“For example, when the elections are proclaimed and the voters’ roll is ratified, there are cut-off dates for candidates to announce their availability to stand for election, dates for the submission of candidate documents, as well as dates for these to be issued with certificates, special votes, closing dates and the actual dates.

These are the milestones the IEC has to reach before the election can commence in full swing,” he explained.

These dates are tabled and officials are designated responsibilities according to a set timetable. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nkosi remarked that voting was an exercise in social distancing because voters are in the booths by themselves, adding that voting stations will be equipped with sanitisers and the wearing of masks would be obligatory.

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“In terms of preserving the integrity of the ballot, the IEC has reconsidered certain processes which depends largely on observations by political parties and agents that will be an inherent part of the process.

“The fairness of the election will therefore not be compromised,” he said.

According to Nkosi, a fixed date has not been earmarked, but he confirmed that according to the law, the term of the current local government officers ends between August 3 and November 3.

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He concluded by saying,” It has not happened that someone has criminally tried to derail the electoral process.
Everyone in South Africa has a right to vote and belong to a political party.

“With the IEC, employees are vetted to ensure that the right people are hired. Anyone actively involved in politics within a five-year period, will not be considered,” Nkosi said.