Chapter 7, clause 159 of the constitution states that the “term of a municipal council may be no more than five years … If a municipal council is dissolved in terms of national legislation, or when its term expires, an election must be held within 90 days.”. Elections, more than any other measure, gauge how effective and true democracy is: without a process that is free and fair, our leaders lose all legitimacy. Although publicly funded and accountable to Parliament, the commission is independent of the government. The fifth municipal election held in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994; municipal elections … As long as vaccine roll-out predictions remain hazy, we have to assume authorities are looking at every possible option to prevent voting day from turning into a super-spreader event. “Obviously you don’t want to exclude such a person,” Bosman says. (Incidentally, at the time of writing, the whereabouts of Magufuli are unknown, with multiple media reports suggesting he is in Nairobi being treated for Covid-19.). “Health and safety protocols have been introduced into voter registration and voting procedures to mitigate the risk of transmission of the virus. Earlier this year EFF leader Julius Malema reiterated this call, announcing the party’s central command team had drawn up a concept document to take to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) detailing how the 2021 municipal elections could be consolidated with the 2024 national and provincial elections. The fifth municipal election held in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994; municipal elections … What is clear is that this is a conversation that can’t be put off. With the advocates of a delay having spent the past year trumpeting their cause, there is little doubt that any deficiencies will be ruthlessly pounced on. Iceland went a step further by providing drive-by booths in which an individual could write down their choice and show an official through a closed window. These utilize a mixed-member electoral system, with ward-level seats elected according to plurality in single-seat districts, and municipality-wide multiseat districts elected through closed-list proportional representation (PR). Climate change slightly more of a priority for chief executives,... Hlophe did not apply corruption law properly in Bongo case,... Impeachment inquiry against public protector initiated. The answer of whether it may be just to postpone the local government elections is not a simple one — despite it being somewhat inevitable. Since November, it has been the topic of much discussion, with former president Donald Trump alleging that it tipped the scales against him. Municipal elections are held every five years, and the previous municipal elections were held in 2006. 2008 National Youth Dialogue on Electoral Democracy. To help us continue for another 35 future years with the same proud values, please consider taking out a subscription. If a municipal council is dissolved in terms of national legislation, or when its term expires, an election must be held within 90 days.” This offers a … And with local government elections due to take place later this year, that uncertainty presents a severe problem. A lack of precedent has raised concerns about the future of the Ingonyama Trust after the death of the king, its sole trustee, The National Assembly’s decision will be at once about the future of the public protector and about the street fight for power in the ANC, But 27% of the chief executives canvassed report being ‘not concerned at all’ or ‘not very concerned’ about climate change, Bongo dismisses the state’s application as a waste of money, driven by ‘dark forces’, The National Assembly has adopted a report finding prima facie evidence of misconduct by 275 votes as an ANC caucus revolt is contained, MPs express frustration at the shoddy work done by the dysfunctional, broke airline and its rescue practitioners, calling their no-show ‘unacceptable’, 2021 municipal elections could be consolidated, particularly vocal on the “ulterior motives”, engage with political parties in the near future, alleging that it tipped the scales against him, media reports suggesting he is in Nairobi, please consider taking out a subscription, Hawks at 47% capacity fighting Covid-19 looting, Toe the line: Mantashe instructs ANC caucus to vote for process against Mkhwebane, Covid-19 effects undermine nature conservation efforts, Testing the ‘glass cliff’ theory at school, Local government elections: Covid-19 adds to IEC’s challenges. “You’re likely to get a disgruntled population that can then mobilise and create an even higher risk of Covid-19 transmissions in the aftermath because elections become contentious.”. With potentially tens of thousands of voters facing this predicament — we can’t be sure that we won’t be at the peak of another wave when voting time comes — it is incumbent on authorities to explore all solutions. What preventive measures do you take to ensure people are not disenfranchised? South Africa has entered a new era of competitive politics and coalition government.The August 3 municipal election represented a sea change in the country’s democratic journey. Herman Mashaba’s Action SA has also been particularly vocal on the “ulterior motives” of those who would see the 2021 ballot postponed. The Constitution says that the council must reflect overall proportionality of all … It has also indicated there are plans afoot to engage with political parties in the near future. Finally, another practical option that could be implemented without the need for drastic infrastructure overhaul is “early voting”. 2008 National Media Conference. 2008 IEC National Symposium - Towards the South African 2009 Elections. There is also the social disparity of “the digital divide”. With no super-spreader fears to worry about, elections proceeded largely as normal. It’s hard to gauge just how open the commission might be to adapting to new mechanisms later this year. We run into similar technical issues when we discuss other remote alternatives. He was previously the online day editor. Step 1: Select municipal election. “Or then the most sound option likely, but [one] that also contains risks, is proxy voting, where you can send someone as your representative to vote on your behalf.”. South Africa South African Municipal by-Election Results 2019 February 1, 2019. Material may not be published or reproduced in any form without prior written permission. For municipal councils there is a mixed-member system in which wardselect individual councillors alongside … It was the fifth municipal election held in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994; municipal elections are held every five years.. In South Africa our municipal elections use a mixture of a constituency and a PR system. Luke Feltham runs the Mail & Guardian's sports desk. However, the unknowns relate to the impact of the pandemic on voter turnout and demand for special vote home visits.”. A failure to do so would mean that members of municipal councils would be operating without a mandate from those they serve; in other words, democratic heresy. ... (Municipal elections and by-elections) For Voters (National and provincial elections) For voters (Registration) Observers. Noxolo Gwala, an assistant programme officer at the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, was in Tanzania last year for an election that ran much like any other. The people of this nation have spent the past 27 years toiling on the democratic project. Elections in South Africa are held for the National Assembly, provincial legislatures and municipal councils. “You never want to run the risk of exclusion. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called for them to be pushed back ever since the virus arrived in the country. Mail-in or postal voting, replaces the need for in-person attendance with a ballot that is received and redispatched through the post. Allocation of seats. Results of the November 11 municipal by-elections. By going beyond media soundbites, we can all become more informed and active citizens. Protests and gatherings represent a high risk of spreading the virus among large numbers of people. This offers a window between August and November to organise the election. I think that would require a bit more planning ahead, instead of swapping now,” she says. And if there is a group that would particularly feel this difference, it is those in self-isolation. People are likely to know who they are voting for and will be more motivated to go out to the street.”. “To run elections in such a climate will, therefore, constitute an undermining of democracy, as well as putting the lives of society at risk,” Malema insisted. Twenty-seven years after that historic day, we face a new threat. Although this is a democratic right, it would obviously be preferable to prevent faulty elections from compelling citizens to gather en masse. How proxy voting could look will likely have to be adapted to local circumstances, but the concept is simple: indicate what your preference is to a representative and give them authorisation to cast your vote. This was despite calls from the … “In recent years we’ve had issues with the postal service. Israel solved the problem by special ventilated tents to these voters, mandating that they drive straight to the location without interacting with anyone else. South Africa usually follows an electoral schedule of national and provincial elections taking place two calendar years before the municipal elections. But we have always been able to fall back on the knowledge that it is us, the citizens, who have the power to hold them accountable. Elections follow a five-year cycle, with national and provincial elections held simultaneously and municipal elections held two years later. The 2016 South African municipal elections were held on 3 August 2016, to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces. These are unprecedented times, and the role of media to tell and record the story of South Africa as it develops is more important than ever. As the name suggests, the process would involve setting up different date parameters to accommodate the needs that arise. The Mail & Guardian is a proud news publisher with roots stretching back 35 years, and we’ve survived right from day one thanks to the support of readers who value fiercely independent journalism that is beholden to no-one. Sponsored Links Election Results for the Municipal By-Elections Held on 30 January 2019: On January 30 2019 Municipal By-Elections were held in the Free State Province for the ward 47 of Manguang Municipality. South Korea has been doing temperature scans at its polling stations and then if someone runs a fever they have a separate voting area, so obviously there are risks of exposure attached to that. The electoral system is based on party-list proportional representation, which means that parties are represented in proportion to their electoral support. All material © Mail & Guardian Online. Preventing the legitimacy of our democracy being called into question would seem to be our highest priority. 2008 National Youth Dialogue on Electoral Democracy. These are the minimum protocols of what you might expect: social distancing, bring your own pen, sanitising and so forth. “I think it’s important to avoid as much as possible the possibility of a disputed electoral outcome. This is after the Independent Electoral Commission announced possible dates for the 2021 Local Government Elections. var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1605178785594'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='756px';vizElement.style.height='1527px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='756px';vizElement.style.height='1527px';} else { vizElement.style.width='756px';vizElement.style.height='1527px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); VIDEO: IEC announces the results of the 11 November by-elections, State Capture Inquiry is contributing to Denel’s reputational damage: Group CEO, LIVE: Proceedings ahead of the ‘planting’ of AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, No legal basis to fund Zuma’s legal defence, argues EFF in SCA, CR17 bank statements never entered into court records: Lawyer, VIDEO: Mthokozisi Ntumba memorial service, Limpopo communities harvest locusts brought by recent heavy rains, Infrastructure funds will be used for wage bill if government loses: Treasury, Tributes pour in for actors Menzi Ngubane and Noxolo Maqashalala, Queen Elizabeth makes first appearance since Harry and Meghan interview, Seven Limpopo schools record 0% pass rate, NSFAS should publish qualifications it no longer funds: Education activist, Lesedi FM’s ‘Ba2Cada’ to appear in court on Monday, 2020 Matric results due to be released on Monday, Vatican ruling on same-sex couples prompts defiance, pain, confusion, Benefits outweigh the risks of AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot as review continues: WHO, King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s remains have arrived at Kwakhethomthandayo Palace, Forum 4 Service Delivery calls on government to continue with LGE. “The IEC has to think extremely hard on that. By-elections data visualized. Regulates municipal elections and amends certain laws Format: PDF Size: 240 KB. The Independent Electoral Commission is a permanent body created by the constitution to promote and safeguard representative democracy in South Africa. These elections were extraordinary in that they were the first to be held in South Africa under COVID-19 conditions and were the largest number of by-elections held on a single day in our history. The party’s argument is that the occasion would represent a dangerous health risk, as well as jeopardise the democratic process, thanks to procedural delays caused by lockdown — the demarcation of wards, for instance. The 2016 South African municipal elections were held on 3 August 2016, to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces. For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za. Pure Politics is our mission to better understand our democracy and how to improve the structures that underpin it. Asked by the Mail & Guardian whether the commission is exploring additional ways to ensure voter safety during the local government elections, deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi said: “By-elections were conducted in November and December 2020 during Covid-19. Some states embraced the system as to encourage participation among those wary of venturing out during the pandemic, whereas others required a strong reason to be able to partake. South Africa’s electoral system; National and provincial elections In such a scenario, we couldn’t begin to contemplate holding a fair election with an emphasis on technology. What South Africa's Municipal Elections Will Reveal An African National Congress rally July 31 in Johannesburg, South Africa, aimed at shoring up support in advance of Aug. 3 municipal elections. The infrastructure required would simply be too gargantuan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. But President Cyril Ramaphosa assured the public during his State of the Nation address that we will forge ahead with the polls by the end of 2021. The next municipal elections should be … I think we’re all aware of that,” says Isabel Bosman, a Konrad Adenauer Stiftung scholar at the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2020, whose research has focused on elections in the pandemic. With both elections plagued by concerns — including internet blackouts and opposition suppression — they have brought light to another danger, Gwala says. Its immediate task is the impartial management of free and fair elections at all government levels. The only observable difference was water-filled Jojo tanks and soap at the stations. The IEC held an editor’s webinar earlier Wednesday. Municipal elections were held in South Africa on 18 May 2011, electing new councils for all municipalities in the country. We have seen over the past year how a simple call to work from home can have huge ramifications for people who lack access to devices or connectivity. The results of this, and other reports such as that of the auditor-general’s municipal audit, show how important it is for communities to be involved in the choosing of their municipal representatives.Municipal elections differ from national elections in that people vote for individuals as well as for a party – these directly elected individuals become the ward councillors. Currently, the IEC has a list of procedures and guidelines that it has implemented to protect voter safety during previous and imminent planned by-elections. Maimane's OSA won't contest municipal elections, to back independent candidates. The ANC has also demonstrated a willingness to entertain the idea of merging the two votes, but the other major parties in parliament have rejected the notion. Further north, in Uganda, a few months later, Gwala observed another election that similarly went on without consideration of a global pandemic. The ward councillors can be either a member of a political party, or an independent. In South Africa by-elections are held only at municipal level. The Commission is also encouraged by the turnout of voters which is within the range for by-elections held since the 2016 Municipal Elections. The global pandemic has swept any concept of normal out from under our feet. By-election date: 09 Dec 2020 By-ELECTION 11 Nov 2020 By-ELECTION 08 Apr 2020 By-ELECTION 18 Mar 2020 By-ELECTION 26 Feb 2020 By-ELECTION 05 Feb 2020 By-ELECTION 15 Jan 2020 By-ELECTION 04 Dec 2019 By-ELECTION 27 Nov 2019 By-ELECTION 13 Nov 2019 By-ELECTION 06 Nov 2019 By-ELECTION 23 Oct 2019 By-ELECTION … Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, has long played down the threat of Covid-19. A very different institutional design, adopted in 2000, guides South Africa’s municipal elections. One method that has received recent global attention is mail-in voting, which was in the headlines thanks to the US elections. On 27 April 1994 images of long, snaking voter lines in South Africa were broadcast to millions around the globe. Any system using the internet would likely prove impossible to implement between now and August, at least not safely and effectively. How do you set up special voting to ensure at no time is there a rush to polling stations? Last May he tested a goat and a pawpaw to prove that testing kits were not reliable and in January declared that the presence of God negated the need for foreign vaccines. Results of the November 11 municipal by-elections. Whether quarantining because of exposure or being infected with the virus itself, it would be undemocratic to remove this group from the process. With alternative remote voting methods in the spotlight globally, many have wondered if any of these might find a place on our own shores. Just how those adjustments will manifest remains unknown, but it is clear that the social-distancing markers of a Woolworths queue will not suffice. A poor showing in those races could bode ill for … For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za. “We will need to adjust to the conditions forced upon us by Covid,” he said. South Africa, it’s fair to say, is unlikely to replicate what we’ve seen in Tanzania or Uganda; however, that doesn’t preclude it from having its voting process called into question.
D-luxe Burger Dining Plan, Sam's Franklin, Tn, Fire And Blood Aegon Iii, Peter Rees City Of London, "anatol Yusef" "hello My Love", Student Accommodation Kingston, Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 Week 8 Coins, Where Is M5 Industries Located, Edinburgh Fringe Best Joke 2017, How To Sleep With A Second Degree Burn, Taco Met Gehakt En Guacamole,