A record number of parties and independent candidates will contest in 403 wards across the North West province. Political parties contesting local government elections in the North West gathered at Mahikeng to sign a pledge committing themselves to the IEC’s Electoral Code of Conduct.
IEC National Commissioner, Mosotho Moepya and North West Provincial Electoral Officer, Dr Tumelontle Thiba, together with Provincial Deputy Police Commissioner, Patrick Asaneng, officiated over the signing of the pledge.
North West Provincial Electoral Officer, Dr Tumelontle Thiba says, “On the chart that we were using at the signing of the Code of Conduct and commitment to the pledge, (we have) 52 parties which are currently interested in 2021 and we also have in the region of 79 to 80 independent candidates, which is a max difference between 2016, 45 independent candidates. The number has almost doubled. And 31 parties, the number has almost tripled.”
Meanwhile, Asaneng says all hands are on deck to secure all 1 743 voting stations on election day.
“There are individuals within our communities who would want to use the lack of basic services as a ploy to come and disrupt the conducting of these elections. This has happened in the province in areas like your Madibeng, your Matlosana and Taung. We have made sure that all the 1 743 voting districts are adequately covered.”
Electoral Code of Conduct pledge for 2021 Municipal Elections:
