Elections: Fun facts about the candidates

Over 60 000 candidates are contesting the upcoming local government elections.

 

A week to go…

The local government elections are around the corner and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is hard at work preparing for the quinquennial event.

The IEC is also keeping voters up to date about some interesting election facts:

A record number of parties and candidates are contesting in these elections, which, some say, are the most contested since the 1994 general elections.

There has been a huge increase in the number of political parties, all vying for top spot.

Statistical data shows the diversity of each candidacy.

The IEC said of the candidates contesting the elections, approximately 60 percent are male and 40 percent are female. “However, gender parity is more closely achieved on party PR lists where the gender ratio is 52:48. When it comes to ward candidates, the picture is different with 66 percent male versus 34 percent female. Of the 831 independent candidates, 86 percent are male and only 14 percent are female,” IEC spokesperson, Kate Bapela, said.

Quick Question:

What are your thoughts about the number of political parties contesting the elections? Let us know by commenting below. We would love to hear from you.

And, if the elections are still confusing, please visit:

Exit mobile version