Elections may be moved to February 2022

Former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke has recommended that the local government election be postponed to February 2022. This was announced on Tuesday afternoon, 20 July.

Moseneke was appointed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to determine whether an election amid the pandemic and the government measures put in place to combat it would in fact be free and fair.

Moseneke said between now and the scheduled election date of October 27, there would not be enough time for either the IEC or political parties to prepare for elections and campaign fairly and freely in the midst of a lockdown. He said that, in a state of disaster and lockdown, it would not be possible for voters and politicians to freely exercise their democratic rights.

Asked about what will happen next, Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse said the commission will consider the recommendations over the next few days and consult with several role players, such as the national party liaison committee. “If a decision is made to postpone the election, the court will eventually have to rule on it,” Hendrickse said. “The constitution stipulates that the term of all municipal councils expires after five years. Elections must then take place within 90 days from that date. In our current circumstances, the constitution obliges the election of current councils to take place before 1 November 2021.”