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IEC agrees to move local polls – subject to court outcome
The upcoming voter registration weekend scheduled for 31 July and 1 August has been postponed as the Electoral Commission of South Africa set to approach courts over the postponement of elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has accepted the recommendation to postpone this year’s local election, subject to a court approval.
The recently-released report following an inquiry by Justice Dikgang Moseneke, recommended to the IEC that the elections, set for October 27, be deferred to no later February 2022.
Moseneke found that it would be unlikely that the elections, if held in October, would be free and fair.
As a result of the acceptance of the report, the IEC said on Friday at a press briefing in Centurion, that the upcoming voter registration weekend would be postponed pending the outcome of the court application to defer the elections.
IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini said: “The commission unanimously accepts the findings of the Moseneke report.
“In particular, the commission notes the rational and central thesis of the report that community immunity through mass vaccination must be considered as a desirable step in the conduct of a safe, free and fair election in the republic.”
Mashinini said voter registration weekend scheduled for 31July and 1 August, would also be postponed to enable the vaccination of staff. Negotiations were already at an advanced stage in this regard with the Department of Health – fulfilling one of the report’s recommendations.
“This to enable the steps necessary for the preservation of the lives of the members of electoral staff, political party agents, observers and voters who will ordinarily be in attendance at 23 151 registration stations across the country,” he said.
“This decision is grounded on the epidemiological projections advanced in the Moseneke report as well as the current persisting high levels of Covid-19 infections and mortality in the country.”
Although Mashinini was not sure which court between the electoral and the constitutional court would deal with the matter, he said they would “urgently brief senior counsel to launch an application to seek judicial
authorisation to conduct the election outside of the constitutionally prescribed time periods”.
“Until a court of competent jurisdiction has determined the application for deferral, all other planned electoral activities will proceed,” he said.
The commission was also to consult the national treasury regarding the financial implications of the recommendations.
While no new date has been set for the voter registration weekend, Mashinini urged eligible voters to register online.
“Since its launch on 14 July, more than 8 648 voters have already successfully used the system to register or change registration details.”
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