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Electoral Commission welcomes resumption of political activities

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The Electoral Commission has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the country’s return to Alert Level 1 which allows the resumption of some political activities.

“The relaxation of the restrictions paves the way for the holding of by-elections for municipal ward vacancies which arose since the last by-election in early December,” the IEC said in a statement on Monday.

The President made the announcement of the move to Level 1 in an address to the nation on Sunday.

Under the eased restrictions, political activities including political gatherings of up to 100 people in an indoor venue and 250 people in an outdoor venue are now allowed.

According to the IEC, the outstanding by-elections scheduled to be held on 21 April and 19 May will help to “clear the decks” of vacancies ahead of the Local Government Elections scheduled for between 4 August and 1 November.

A total of 45 by-elections across 37 municipalities in all nine provinces are scheduled affecting 362 431 registered voters.

Under the current Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, the cut-off for the filling of ward vacancies ahead of the elections is 1 May (six months from the latest possible date for the Local Government Elections).

The nine-month deadline for the cessation of by-elections in the case of dissolved municipal councils (1 February 2021) has already passed.

‘The resumption of by-elections is therefore one of the final opportunities ahead of the Local Government Elections for the Electoral Commission, political parties, independent candidates and other stakeholders to test their protocols for campaigning, voter registration, voting and counting of ballots while maintaining COVID-19 safety measures,” said the Commission.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission was able to conduct free, fair and safe by-elections in November and December last year during the previous Alert Level 1 phase of restrictions. The Commission remains confident that it can conduct further by-elections under the same conditions.

The following by-elections will be held on 21 April 2021 with voter registration planned for 13 – 14 March 2021:

Province – Municipality – Ward number/s – Registered voters

  1. Eastern Cape – BUF – Buffalo City – 20 – 8 798
  2. KwaZulu-Natal – ETH – eThekwini – 6 – 18 116
  3. KZN292 – KwaDukuza – 5 – 4 350
  4. KZN294 – Maphumulo – 5 & 7 – 8 993
  5. KZN434 – uBuhlebezwe – 4 – 4 754
  6. KZN435 – uMzimkhulu – 20 – 4 765
  7. Limpopo – LIM332 – Greater Letaba – 15 – 3 856
  8. Mpumalanga – MP305 – Lekwa – 11 – 4 930
  9. North West – NW372 – Madibeng – 40 – 6 724
  10. Northern Cape – NC062 – NAMA KHOI – 2 – 3 067
  11. NC452 – GA-SEGONYANA – 2 – 3 952
  12. Western Cape – CPT – City of Cape Town – 20 – 17 861
  13. WC048 – Knysna – 11 – 2 810
  14. WC053 – Beaufort West – 4 – 3 276

7 provinces – 14 municipalities – 15 (71 VDs) – 96 252

The following by-elections are scheduled for 19 May 2021 with voter registration being planned for 10-11 April 2021

Province – Municipality – Ward/s – Registered voters

  1. Eastern Cape – EC122 – Mnquma – 28 – 4 345
  2. EC124 Amahlathi – 11 – 3 204
  3. EC135 – Intsika Yethu – 17 – 3 325
  4. EC154 – Port St Johns – 09 – 3 450
  5. EC157 – King Sabata Dalindyebo 34 – 5 673
  6. EC441 – Matatiele – 11 – 3 698
  7. NMA – Nelson Mandela Bay – 17 – 6 857
  8. Free State – FS184 – Matjhabeng – 35 – 5 630
  9. FS194 – Maluti a Phofung – 25 – 4 322
  10. Gauteng – EKU – Ekurhuleni – 43 – 17 285
  11. JHB – City of Johannesburg – 7, 17, 18, 23 – 74 933
  12. TSH – Tshwane Metro – 3, 58, 88, 92 – 55 768
  13. KwaZulu-Natal – ETH – eThekwini – 110 – 19 190
  14. KZN282 – uMhlathuze – 15 – 6 442
  15. KZN242 – Nqutu – 11 – 5 707
  16. KZN262 – uPhongolo – 14 – 3 877
  17. KZN282 – uMhlathuze – 15, 22, 30 – 16 164
  18. Limpopo – LIM344 – Makhado – 38 – 5 663
  19. LIM367 – Mogalakwena – 23 – 5 704
  20. LIM476 – Fetakgomo Tubatse – 13 – 6 429
  21. Mpumalanga – MP312 – Emalahleni – 33 – 4 731
  22. MP313 – Steve Tshwete – 22 – 3 646
  23. MP325 – Bushbuckridge – 21 – 6 578

6 Provinces – 23 Municipalities – 30 wards (184 VDs) – 266 179 – SAnews.gov.za

Ward 7 Independent Councillor

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.