Record number of parties to contest elections

TWENTY years on and a multi-party democracy continues to flourish in South Africa with a record number of 33 political parties set to contest the national and provincial election on 7 May.

This follows last Wednesday’s deadline for the payment of deposits and submissions of documentation including candidate lists by political parties.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) told the Zululand Observer on Wednesday a total number of 33 political parties had indicated their intention to contest the election of the National Assembly.

However, the IEC said parties still had a window of opportunity until 24 March to submit any outstanding requirements.

‘If all 33 parties meet their obligation, this will be seven more parties (26.9%) contesting compared to the 2009 national election and just over double the number of parties (16) which contested in 1999,’ said the IEC statement.

‘In the country’s historic first democratic election in 1994, there were 19 parties on the national ballot paper and 21 in 2004. Even if the four parties which still have to comply with the nomination requirements were to be excluded, the ballot paper will still contain a record 29 contesting parties.’

In terms of the provincial elections, the Western Cape will be the most contested province with 26 parties submitting lists (up from 22 in 2009).

This is followed by Gauteng with 22 parties having submitted lists (up from 20 in 2009), Limpopo with 20 (18 in 2009), the Eastern Cape with 18 (17 in 2009) and KZN with 18 (17 in 2009), Free State with 17 (14 in 2009) and then Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape and North West with 16 parties each (respectively 15, 13, 16 in 2009).

The IEC said these numbers could reduce slightly if the parties failed to meet their obligations before 24 March.

The lists of candidates for each party (national, regional and provincial) will then be available for inspection from 28 March. Any objection to candidates must be submitted to the IEC before 5pm on Tuesday, 1 April.

The Commission will rule on objections by Monday, 7 April and any appeals to the rulings must be submitted to the Electoral Court by 10 April.

The final deadline for decisions of the Electoral Court is 15 April after which the final list of candidates contesting the elections will be published on 22 April and certificates issued to candidates by 24 April.