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Should Parties Pay a Higher (or Lower) Election Deposit?

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The Electoral Commission has invited the public to comment on the proposed rates of election deposits for the 27 October local government elections.

This follows the publication on Friday in the Government Gazette by the Chief Electoral Officer of proposed deposits to be paid by parties and independent candidates intending to contest the elections scheduled for the municipal elections.

The proposed rates, among others, include R3500 to contest an election in a metropolitan municipality; R2000 in a local municipality with wards; R1000 for an election in a district municipality; and R1000 for an election in a ward if the party is not contesting PR election or an independent ward candidate.

The IEC in a statement on Monday said the proposed amounts are unchanged from those set in Municipal Elections 2016.

“They reflect a decrease of between 50 % (for independent candidates and those choosing to contest a single ward), 12.5% (for those contesting metro councils) and 20% (for those contesting local councils) since Municipal Elections 2011,” said the Commission.

Under the proposal, a political party contesting all elections across the country, would pay a deposit of R482 000 for a total of 4 725 elections and ballot papers on which the party and its candidates would appear.

This compared to R605 000 for contesting all 10 elections in national and provincial elections in 2019.

The Commission said it should be noted that it was yet to make a determination with regard to the amount of the election deposits for Municipal Elections 2021 and will accordingly consider all representations and comments in arriving at a final determination prior to the opening of candidate nominations.

Candidate nominations are scheduled to open after the official proclamation of the Municipal Elections 2021 by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma expected on 2 August 2021.

Representations and comments must be submitted by 4pm on Friday 2 July 2021 to the Electoral Commission for the attention of Kgosietsile Tshoke at deposits@elections.org.za or may be delivered to Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157. – 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.