Local elections to take place in October
Following the Presidency's announcement, Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott, shared helpful information for unregistered and first-time voters.
The date of the next local government elections has been up in the air for some time. Political parties have been at each other’s throats, either fighting to have the elections postponed or to ensure they happen this year.
The arguments can now come to an end (at least on this topic) as President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced on Wednesday, 21 April that the voting for local government representatives will take place on 27 October 2021.
The local government elections are held every five years for residents to elect leadership and public representatives at a metropolitan, district, and local level. In laymen’s terms, you will be voting to elect the political party and party member (ward councillor) that will be representing your residential area.
This will mark the sixth municipal election since South Africa became a democracy in 1994. President Ramaphosa is urging eligible – and especially first-time voters – to ensure that they are registered to vote because these elections provide the basis for development and service delivery closest to where citizens live. Following the Presidency’s announcement, Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott, shared helpful information for unregistered and first-time voters.
According to Leah, the IEC (Electoral Commission of South Africa) has been advised that there will be one registration weekend before the elections. It has been tentatively scheduled for the weekend of 17 and 18 July, but Leah said she would notify residents if this changes.
Some important information:
• If you have never registered to vote before, you will need to make use of this registration weekend or visit your nearest IEC office as you cannot register online
• If you are already registered, but need to update your address, you can do so online or by making use of the registration weekend
• To check your registration status, click here.
• To check which voting station you should be registered at, click here.
• It is imperative that you are registered at the correct voting station, because unlike national elections, you will only be able to vote at the station you are registered at
• Your ID book or Smart ID Card will be required at your voting station on the registration weekend and on voting day. Driver’s’ licences will not be accepted
