The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says a record number of political parties are set to contest the 2014 national provincial elections on May 7.
Thirty-three political parties have indicated their intention to contest the election of the National Assembly – although three parties are yet to fully comply with prescribed deposits and may be ruled out before the election.
This follows last Wednesday’s deadline for the payment of deposits and submission of documentation including candidate lists by political parties. Parties still have a window of opportunity until the 24th of this month to submit any outstanding requirement.
If all the 33 parties meet their obligation, this will be seven more than contested in the 2009 national election. Nineteen parties contest the 1994 elections and 21 in 2004
Even if the four parties which still have to comply with the nomination requirements were to be excluded, the ballot paper will still contain a record 29 contesting parties. In terms of the provincial elections, the Western Cape will be the most contested province with 26 parties submitting lists (up from 22 in 2009).
This is followed by Gauteng with 22 parties having submitted lists (up from 20 in 2009), Limpopo with 20 (18 in 2009), the Eastern Cape with 18 (17 in 2009) and KwaZulu-Natal with 18 (17 in 2009), Free State with 17 (14 in 2009) and then Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape and North West with 16 parties each (respectively 15, 13, 16 in 2009).
These numbers may reduce slightly if the parties fail to meet their obligations before 24 March.
– By
