On Monday 21 June, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa announced the fees for contestation in the 2021 local government elections, revealing that the proposed deposit rates remain unchanged from those for the 2016 municipal elections. Party-affiliated candidates contesting the elections in a metropolitan, local, or district municipality must cough up R3 500, R2 000, and R1 000 respectively.

Independent candidates and party-affiliated candidates not contesting proportional representation (PR) election can be expected to pay R1 000. Political parties contesting all elections across the country must pay a deposit of R482 000 for a total of 4 725 elections and ballot papers. The IEC says these figures, whilst appearing to be significant, do in fact reflect a substantial decrease in the deposit amounts since the 2011 municipal elections.

“Representations and comments must be submitted by 16h00 on Friday 2 July 2021 to the Electoral Commission for the attention of Mr Kgosietsile Tshoke at deposits@elections.org.za or may be delivered to Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157,” says IEC spokesperson, Kate Bapela.

Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the local government elections will go ahead as planned on 27 October, despite concerns over rising Covid-19 figures. This will be the sixth time under South Africa’s democratic dispensation that voters will elect leadership and public representatives at local government level.

The IEC has announced that it will be introducing new voting management devices for these municipal elections. They have also vowed to ensure that all Covid-19 related protocols will be adhered to, come the election period.

Candidate nominations will open on 2 August 2021.

OFM News