Local polls delayed until later in year

As political parties brace themselves for local government elections, it has become clear the polls will not take place until later in the year.

This as the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) this week kick-started the process to train various stakeholders around the Political Party Funding Act, including political parties, the commission’s senior officials and staff, and on 17 March would be the turn for the media.

The Act regulates donations received by parties including revealing their sources of funding. It also prohibits external donations to parties and imposes penalties for breaches of the legislation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move to relax Covid-19 restrictions and allow gatherings of up to 250 people outdoors has paved the way for the parties to launch their election manifestos and kick-start their campaigns.

The local elections were scheduled to be held between 4 August and 1 November. This required the IEC to first clear the deck of the last hurdle in by-elections before the local polls were held.