There will be a difference in the local government elections on November 4, as the competition is expected to heat up because of the crowds that will be fighting. About 100,000 people are expected to contest the elections and contest 10,000 seats in the local municipalities.
This was expressed by the head of the Electoral Commission in this country, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Sy Mamabolo, who said that the election will be very difficult. He said this while talking to indigenous leaders yesterday in Johannesburg.
“There will be crying and gnashing of teeth as about 90,000 people will cry because the seats are few, 10,000. It will not be pleasant for others as it is painful not to succeed,” said Mamabolo.
He said they are still waiting for the date of the election to be officially included in the government document in order to set a deadline for doing things. The task of including this day in the government document, is on the shoulders of the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Indigenous Affairs, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Once the date of the election has been officially recorded, the ballot will be closed, meaning that no one will be able to register. A final date will also be announced for the submission of the list of people that the parties will vote for in the elections. On this day, independent candidates will be expected to submit their names. There will be a deadline for paying the election fee.
As it happens, next weekend which is August 1 and 2, the commission will open the last chance for people to register to vote. There won’t be another weekend to register to vote now that the election is in full swing.
The Commission said people can still continue to register to vote using the Online Registration Portal. It said it is free to register to vote and you do not need to have mobile data to register.
“You don’t need data to register to vote or to check where you are registered. All you have to do is open your data or you don’t have it, so you can log in and register,” said the Commission.
It encouraged voters not to wait for the dark without a cloud but to check that they have registered.
It will be remembered that in this election you vote only where you are registered, not anywhere else. Those who want to register or check where they have registered can go to: registertovote.elections.org.za.