Ill or absent voters can only have time till Friday 24 August, to apply for special votes in the Ward 12 by-election.The by-election is set for 5 September.
The by-election follows former DA councillor Saal de Jager’s resignation due to his increasing business commitments. The ward covers much of Parys and a small section of Tumahole. Registered voters will vote at the Parys Library, Parys Town Hall, and at the AME St Leonard Church. Voters who apply and qualify for a special vote will be able to cast their ballots the day before, 4 September, between 08:00 and 17:00. The DA’s candidate is Mr Andries Vrey, a Parys business-man. The ANC is fielding Ms Mantsemane Peggy Nonyana. Other political parties might also decide to contest the seat, a DA stronghold. There are two categories of special votes–voting station visits and home visits. Carina Serfontein, the DA’s election manager, explains:
•One is for voters who will be away or working at voting stations on 5 September, but who are able to visit their voting station on the day before.
•The other is for voters who are physically infirm or disabled and who want to apply for Independent Electoral Commission staff to visit them at their retirement village or private home on 4 September. Cllr Serfontein emphasised that voters must be registered in Ward 12. Voters can apply for a special vote on the special application form available from the political parties or from the IEC office in Liebenbergstrek, Parys.
