Some political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), wanted the elections delayed as the lockdown had limited their ability to campaign and the country faced a possible third wave of infections.
EFF leader Julius Malema has called for both national and local government elections should be held simultaneously in 2024. Malema was speaking on 30 March 2021 following the party's national plenum held over the weekend.
Political parties have committed to sticking to the 'new normal' as per COVID-19 regulations as they prepare to resume activities and prepare for the upcoming local government elections.
Yesterday, Mmusi Maimane said that his One SA movement would endorse a number of independent candidates who would contest the local government elections later this year.
Mmusi Maimane said that One South Africa’s support for independents will be in the form of financial and other resources.
EFF leader Julius Malema has called for the postponement of the local government elections in light of the coronavirus pandemic, saying both national and local government elections should be held simultaneously in 2024 in order to prevent a super-spreader event. Malema also said schools should remain closed until it was safe in order to protect the lives of children and educators.
That is the message from newly elected DA Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela, who wants the party to win all 30 municipalities in the only DA-run province.
The EFF is not alone in this call, with the ANC having indicated that it would also investigate whether this could be done.
The commission said it would need to print some 130 million ballots and vote counting could be more complex and possibly go beyond the current stipulated seven days.
The Independent Electoral Commission said it wanted to test the system with a plan to roll it out for the 2024 elections but their request for funding was not granted.
Action SA is led by former Democratic Alliance (DA) Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba and was launched on Saturday.
Quite how the ANC hopes to improve its results in next year's local government elections is unclear when it seems so unfit for purpose, writes Judith February.
Briefing MPs on Tuesday, the IEC said that while COVID-19 would have a huge bearing on next year’s local elections, preparations were well underway.
The commission briefed the National Assembly’s home affairs committee on Tuesday morning on its state of readiness for the 2021 local government elections.
Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo told Parliament that the devices would allow electoral officials to register voters in the particular part of a ward where they lived and note their address at the same time.
IEC officials briefed Parliament’s home affairs committee on the impact of an adjusted budget earlier on Tuesday.
Following an African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) meeting, the party said that if conditions were not conducive for local government elections next year, there would need to be consultation with all political parties.
Herman Mashaba said if those who want him back in the position shared the same values as him, a political movement will be a formed next year to contest the next local government elections.
