• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home LGE 2021

Quick Facts on Local Government Elections

2 October 2021, 10:41 AM  |
SABC SABC |  @SABCNews
The 2021 Local Government Elections will take place on November 1.

The 2021 Local Government Elections will take place on November 1.

Image: Reuters

The 2021 Local Government Elections will take place on November 1.

Number of elections 

The 2021 Local Government Elections will see elections taking place in 257 municipalities. It is the same number of municipalities that were contested in 2016, after some municipalities were combined to bring the number down from 278 in 2011. 

A total of 4 468 wards will be contested, up from 4 392 wards five years ago.  

Independent candidates 

Independents can only contest Ward seats in a local election while PR-designated seats are chosen by political parties.  

Unlike parties, to contest a municipal election as an independent ward candidate, an individual must be nominated and then submit the required documents during the candidate nomination period.  

There has been a steady increase in the number of independent candidates since the 2000 local government elections, despite a slight drop in 2006 – 672 in 2000;  663 in 2006;  754 in 2011;  and 855 in 2016. 

Special Votes 

Special Votes were introduced for the first time in the 2011 local government elections.    

Law provides for two types of special votes, namely those who cannot travel to the voting station due to physical infirmity, disability, pregnancy and those who can visit a voting station but cannot do so on Election Day. 

A total of 741 721 applications for special votes were received, which was far more than the 293 693 applications received in 2011.  

Of this number, 719 226 special vote applications were approved, 315 597 (43.8%) of which were home visits and 403 629 (56.1%) were approved voting station visits; 

Voting using a special vote was done over two days, on the 1st and 2nd August 2016. 

Voters’ roll 

A record 26 333 353 million eligible South Africans registered to vote in the election. Females represented 55% of the total registered population. The voters’ roll recorded a net growth of 2 668 307 voters since the 2011 elections. The voters’ roll has grown by 44.90% since its establishment in 1999 when it recorded 18 172 751 voters. The largest age category on the voters’ roll is the “30 to 39” band with 6 435 335 voters, representing 24% of the registered population. The second-largest age category on the voters’ roll is the “20 to 29” band with 5 776 599 voters, representing 22% of the registered population.

There were 14 465 896 female voters (55%) compared to 11 867 457 male voters (45%).

Ballot for visually-impaired

The Commission partnered with Blind SA and the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) to develop a special new 32-window cardboard ballot template to allow visually impaired voters to vote unaided in the elections.

An even bigger double-column 40-window cardboard UBT was used in the City of Cape Town metropolitan (metro) municipal council elections, where 36 parties contested the elections. The Cape Town ballot paper was the largest yet seen in a South African election. It was about A3 in size (420mm x 384mm) – approximately twice the size of a traditional ballot paper.

The Electoral Commission first developed a UBT, together with SANCB, for use in the 2011 Local Government Elections.

Election officials were trained to assist visually impaired voters to mark their ballots unaided with the use of a UBT and to cast their vote.

Share article
Previous Post

Political Party: Pan Africanist Congress

Next Post

Ster-Kinekor’s Business Rescue Practitioner given deadline to publish rescue plan

Related Posts

File Image: An ANC flag is pictured at a party event.

Julia Mathebe elected chairperson of ANC’s Sekhukhune region

17 December 2021, 12:37 PM
Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Phalatse.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor announces members of mayoral committee

13 December 2021, 1:49 PM
An African National Congress flag seen at a party event.

ANC vows not to be bullied into installing new mayor for Ray Nkonyeni Municipality in KZN

12 December 2021, 5:10 PM
An ANC flag is seen at a party event.

ANC Vhembe regional elective conference underway

12 December 2021, 11:49 AM
Newly appointed Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Tania Campbell.

City of Ekurhuleni announces new multi-party Mayoral Committee

11 December 2021, 6:51 PM
An African National Congress flag seen at a party event.

ANC in KZN believes rogue members cost party key municipalities

9 December 2021, 6:31 PM
Next Post
The company's outlook remains stable, assisted by the on-going vaccination roll-out and a reported reduction in daily COVID-19 cases.

Ster-Kinekor’s Business Rescue Practitioner given deadline to publish rescue plan

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Concern over exclusion of foreign nationals from Road Accident Fund
  • Cashless taxi service launched in Cape Town
  • Visitors planning to visit the Overberg region urged to postpone their trips
  • ANC building up in flames in Port St Johns
  • Western Cape on high alert following severe storm warning
  • High waves and rough water conditions force beach closures in the Western Cape
  • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to rest in the town he built and nurtured
  • NSPCA files criminal case against Julius Malema for alleged animal cruelty
  • Snow, heavy rainfall expected in parts of KZN: SAWS
  • Cold-front sweeps across SA bringing snow and chilly temperatures
  • Anti-apartheid activist Aziz Pahad passes on
  • KZN coastal areas on high alert as level 4 inclement weather warning issued
  • Technology making a significant impact in rhino poaching reduction
  • Many Western Cape roads remain inaccessible
  • BRICS Parliamentary Forum aims to foster stronger ties among member states

LATEST

  • Politics

ANC stalwart Aziz Pahad remembered for contributions to Middle East policy


People gather at the site following a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniya in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023.
  • World

Iraq wedding fire kills more than 100


[FILE IMAGE] Cars are overturned at Johannesburg CBD due to an explosion.
  • Business

Local govt’s inability to enforce by-laws blamed for decay of SA cities


File Image: SAPS vehicles and a police tape.
  • Politics

7 000 SAPS members criminally charged for violent crimes: Cele


Handre Pollard kicking
  • Sport

Pollard back as Boks rotate team for Tonga clash


The late Aziz Pahad gesturing during an event
  • Politics

Aziz Pahad: A Life of Activism and Diplomacy


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Political Party: Pan Africanist Congress
Next Ster-Kinekor’s Business Rescue Practitioner given deadline to publish rescue plan