Eight contestants gear up for local by-elections
Voters are also encouraged to bring their own pens to mark their ballot papers although pens will be provided and sanitized after each use
After several by-elections had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said the by-elections will allow them to ‘test and if necessary to refine’ their safeguards ahead of next year’s national municipal elections.
In a historic first for democratic South Africa, the country is set to have 96 by-elections in a single day, to fill a host of councillor vacancies less than a year before the next local government elections.
A backlog in outstanding by-elections was caused by the declaration of the state of disaster and the implementation of the national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting a postponement of all by-elections since March 2020.
The 96 ward by-elections would take place in 56 municipalities on November 11.
The by-elections will be held under strict new Covid-19 protocols aimed at ensuring the safety of voters, election staff, party agents, observers and other stakeholders.
These include implementing strict social distancing practices outside and inside voting stations along with the use of hand sanitisers as voters enter and exit the voting station.
Voters, election staff and all those entering the voting station will be required to wear a mask at all times.
Voters are also encouraged to bring their own pens to mark their ballot papers although pens will be provided and sanitized after each use.
The IEC expressed its confidence that these measures would allow for free and fair elections to proceed in a safe environment.
“The decision by the Commission to approach the Electoral Court for postponements of by-elections since March was not taken lightly,” explained the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mr Glen Mashinini.
“But given the risk to human life and restriction of political activity the Commission had no choice but to act responsibly and postpone the by-elections. Now that circumstances have improved, we are ready to give voters their political voice back.”
Chief Electoral Officer Mr Sy Mamabolo said ward council vacancies are not ordinarily filled during the final six months leading to municipal elections.
“South Africa will continue to hold by-elections for all the wards that become vacant until May 2021. However, holding all outstanding by-elections together on one day will help the Electoral Commission and political parties to focus their attention and energies on one day and to clear the backlog in one go,” he said.
South Africa is one of over 70 countries and territories to have postponed elections this year due to the coronavirus according to statistics compiled by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
In Emalahleni there are five contestants in Ward 18: Thulisile Sibiti Lindokuhle from the African Federal Convention, Bongonkosi Mkhonta from the African National Congress, Salomi Hester Kriel from the Democratic Alliance, Ishmael Mashiloane from the Economic Freedom Fighters and Sharon Mary Schlachter from the Vryheidsfront Plus.
In Ward 23 there are three contestants: William Vusi Themba from the African Federal Convention, Klaas Makereng Mbete from the African National Congress and Jane Mabena from the Economic Freedom Fighters.
For more information on these by-elections, contact your local IEC office weekdays during office hours. Contact details for all IEC offices are available on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za under Contact Us.
