The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo says the 2021 upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) will be the most complex in the history of democratic South Africa.
He told guests at the launch of the Municipal Elections in Sandton, north of Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, that they are expecting more than 10 000 councilors to be elected into the different municipalities across the country.
Mamabolo adds that this year’s Local Government Elections’ tag line is “Every Voice Together” which underlines the possibilities for South Africa where every voice comes together.
“Municipal Elections involve 4 725 unique elections and thus unique ballot paper configuration consisting of the following. 4 468 ward elections, 205 municipality elections in council and eight PR elections in metro councils and 44 district council elections across the country,” Mamabolo explains.
Launch of 2021 municipal elections
Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, is set to appoint members of a panel that will form part of a review committee to assess whether or not, the current conditions are conducive for the 2021 Local Government Elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission announced that it has tasked Justice Moseneke to undertake an urgent evaluation of whether free and fair elections could be held or should be postponed to a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is expected to submit a report on his findings to the IEC in July.
