Opposition divided over municipal elections
EFF wants postponement of poll, but DA warns on illegality of delay
Political parties are divided over whether SA should hold municipal elections later this year.
With SA moved to level 1 of the lockdown, several parties are arguing it was too late and too risky to have the crucial local government elections.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to proclaim the election date next month but the EFF, IFP and UDM have expressed their opposition to the move as they feel this would result in Covid-19 super-spreader events during campaigning.
EFF national spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said the red berets believed the political year had already been compromised by the previous hard lockdown restrictions that prevented contact with potential voters and hindered preparatory work.
“Anything that seeks to suggest that elections must happen this year is essentially saying to us we must go to elections without the people of SA having had a chance to hold us accountable and without making an appeal to them.”
ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said the party was discussing the issue.
“Everybody is concerned about what will happen with Covid-19 but we don’t have a firm decision yet,” Duarte said.
The IFP’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the party was pushing for a postponement to next year as political parties had not had done enough preparatory work and SA had not secured Covid-19 herd immunity.
He said the IFP rejected the call for virtual campaigning by the DA and other parties.
“If you speak from a position of privilege, you are going to have it online, but we represent a constituency which has largely been left behind in so far as these technological developments are concerned.”
He said door-to-door campaigns and gatherings were the main canvassing vehicle and for linking up with the political support base.
Parties are also divided on the call for the synchronisation of municipal and general elections to reduce costs and avoid the “permanent mode of election”, as some said staggered polls reinforced accountability.
The DA warned that postponing the elections would border on illegality. Party spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube said the US and Uganda held elections in the midst of the pandemic.
“If the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission] is able to guarantee free and fair elections, we must proceed with the local government elections. The IEC has welcomed the reopening of political activity and expressed desire to proceed with the elections within the desired time.”
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said the IEC had to explain how the upcoming elections could be free and safe.
FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald, ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe and One SA leader Mmusi Maimane also rejected calls for a postponement as they said this would worsen governance decay in municipalities.
The by-elections set for April and May in 23 municipalities in six provinces are widely viewed as the “dry run” for the municipal elections.
IEC deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi said the commission was steaming ahead with preparatory work for the elections while consultations are under way with government on the date of elections, which have to be held between August 4 and November 1 if they go ahead.
“We are planning as though this election will proceed in the context of Covid-19.”
‘‘ IEC has expressed desire to proceed