POSTPONEMENT RECOMMENDED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) today, 20 July 2021, received the final report of the Inquiry into Ensuring Free and Fair Elections during Covid-19 from former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

The Moseneke Commission recommended that the local government elections initially scheduled for the 27th of October be postponed to be held by no later than February 2022.

The IEC is now expected to consult with key stakeholders including political parties before making a final decision.

Moseneke stated that medical experts were able to raise issues around the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that submissions had shown that the country would have not have reached herd immunity by October 27, which is the proposed day of elections.

“The commission will retreat to study the report in depth. It must be noted that this is a weighty report on a weighty matter,” IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini said.

KAE residents who will be first time voters can still register to vote online here https://registertovote.elections.org.za/Welcome The “VoterPortal” will allow new voters to register and existing voters to update or amend their registration from the comfort of their own homes. The seamless process takes less than 5 minutes.

Residents without internet access will have an opportunity to register at the Voting Districts nearest to them during Registration Weekend of the 31 July and 1 August.

The Moseneke Report can be found here: https://www.elections.org.za/freeandfair/