By Thaakiera Ackerdien
The local government elections are held every five years in South Africa. The elections this year is one which is shrouded in controversy and debate due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the various attempts to delay the said election.
President Cyril Ramaphposa had announced that the elections would take place on 27 October 2021, with the date yet to be formally confirmed. However, recently the government has supported the recent bid by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to postpone the vote to 28 February of 2022 as recommended by former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke.
Moseneke suggested to the IEC that the elections be postponed due to the unfair restrictions created by the Covid-19 pandemic. He argues in his 120-page report that an election under the pandemic would not be “free and fair.”
On Friday, 20 August, the Constitutional court is set to hear the application by the IEC in regard to the postponement. According to the constitution, the term for the municipal council may be no more than five years and an election must be held within 90 days of the date on which the term expires. The date suggested by Moseneke falls outside of this period.
The Western Cape MEC for local government, along with the DA has opposed the application.
Werner Horn, of the DA, opposes the idea on the grounds that the court lacks any jurisdiction to override the constitution. “The commission’s own evidence shows that elections have only caused spikes in infections when they were held when infections were already high, and when large gatherings were permitted. Neither will occur in an October 2021 election,” he says.
The EFF is in favour of the extension, saying that they would not be able to campaign as usual due to the restrictions regarding the covid-19 pandemic.
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