Election body mulls proposal over extension of local boundary lifespans

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) says it is still considering a proposal by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) for the demarcation cycle to be extended to 10 years.

For months leading up to the local elections in August, communities around the country protested against being merged with others. Making the most headlines were the residents of Vuwani and Vyeboom who were suspected of burning more than 24 schools in protest against being incorporated into neighbouring Malamulele.

The issue affected the IEC’s credibility, putting it in the middle of the residents’ quarrel with the Municipal Demarcation Board and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

However, the IEC has chosen to stay out of talks for now about extending the cycle, which currently gives municipal boundaries a five-year lifespan.

“The matter is a vexed one and still under consideration. We will provide an official position on this policy matter once the consideration of the impact on the representation of voters is concluded,” said IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela.

Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesman Legadima Leso said he could not comment on Salga’s idea. “It’s still a discussion that they are having and I think that when the time is right they will bring it to .[the department].”

The Municipal Demarcation Board’s deputy chairman Ashraf Adam said it had discussed the matter at a conference in June. “We support less frequent major boundary changes but we think we should keep the door open for boundary adjustments as required to improve service delivery.”