Locals to vote in by-elections

The vacancy in the Greater Giyani Municipality ward was created by the resignation of councillor, Tiyani Ndlovu while the vacancy in Ba-Phalabowa Municipality ward became available following the death of councillor Puleng Dikgale.

According to Nkibi Ndlozi of the Independent Electoral Commission in Mopani, Ward 1 in Giyani is made up of three villages namely: Blinkwater, Ximausa and Noblehoek whilst Ward 19 in Ba-Phalaborwa comprise of part of Namakgale Township and the surrounding villages.

In Giyani ward 1 residents will vote at Msengani Traditional Council and the following schools: Nwamavimbi High, Ximuwini and Haaka primary schools. In Ba-Phalaborwa ward 19 voting will take place at Methodist Church, Assemblies of God Church, Makhushane Camp, Burning Fire Jesus Ministry, Mhalamhala, Kgopsana and Namakgale Primary School.

Voters are advised to check their registration status online at www.elections.org.za/ ieconline if they have internet access, or to SMS their ID number to 32810 at a cost of R1 per SMS.

Voters can also use these facilities to check if they are affected by the byelections.

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Voters are reminded to take their identity document (ID) with them – either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary ID Certificate to the voting station.

Meanwhile, the IEC has set the deadline of 11 November to clear the backlog of all outstanding by-elections postponed during the COVID-19 lockdown.

To clear the backlog, the Electoral Commission said in a statement that it will hold by-elections in 96 wards in 56 municipalities simultaneously on 11 November.

This follows the lifting of restrictions on political activities during the current lockdown level. 

By-elections have not been held since March 2020 following the declaration of a National State of Disaster and the imposition of the lockdown restrictions intended to curb the spread of coronavirus.

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By-elections are scheduled in all nine provinces across 461 voting districts, affecting over 600 000 registered voters.

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 are also encouraged to bring their own pens to mark their ballot papers although pens will be provided and sanitised after each use. In the statement, the IEC said it is confident 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,” said IEC Chairperson, 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, Sy Mamabolo said a special targeted communications and education programme will be undertaken in the affected wards to teach voters about the new safety protocols and to encourage participation.

Mamabolo said the reduction in the alert level and lifting of restrictions on political activities provided a window to the Electoral Commission to clear the backlog of byelections ahead of next year’s scheduled Municipal Elections.

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 next year.

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“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,” Mamabolo said.

By-elections are usually grouped together where feasible to allow for efficiencies and better coordination.

In the lead up to the byelections on 11 November, the Electoral Commission will engage with key stakeholders, including political parties, through the national, provincial and municipal party liaison committee structures, to consult them on the new practices.

Mashinini said while the Covid-19 conditions had improved sufficiently to enable the holding of elections, the circumstances still demanded the utmost vigilance and conformity to health protocols by election staff, political parties, candidates, observers and other stakeholders.

“The by-elections on 11 November will give us all an opportunity to work together to test and if necessary, to refine our safeguards. “It is within all of us as South African citizens to positively participate in measures to combat the further spread of coronavirus during voting.”