Monday, 3 November 2014, is an important milestone in the preparations for the by-elections taking place on 26 November 2014. It is the cut-off date for the submission of all ward candidate nominations, and political parties are required to give notice of their intention to contest the by-elections and submit their party lists. Parties and candidates who have not submitted their documents and deposits to their local municipal electoral office representative by 17h00 will not be able to contest the by-elections.
A total of 132 by-elections will take place in eight of the nine provinces. These by-elections can be divided broadly into three categories:
• Municipal ward by-elections which will take place in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape;
• Municipal ward and proportional representation (PR) by-elections which will take place in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal where two councils, Inkwanca [EC133] and Mooi Mpofana [KZN223], were dissolved; and
• PR by-elections for the dissolved Ngaka Modiri Molema District Council [DC38] in North West which comprises five municipalities (Ratlou [NW381], Tswaing [NW382], Mafikeng [NW383], Ditsobotla [NW384] and Ramotshere Moiloa [NW385]).
Independent ward candidates must be registered voters in their municipalities and must be nominated by a person who is resident in the relevant ward in that municipality. Party ward candidates must be nominated by a registered political party in the prescribed manner.
Only political parties registered with the Electoral Commission can contest PR elections. Furthermore, parties which are registered at municipal level can only contest in the municipality where they are registered. The list of candidates must also be submitted in a fixed order of preference to the local representative of the Electoral Commission.
The Electoral Commission will notify party/independent nominator of non-compliance regarding outstanding candidate documents on 4 November. This includes acceptance of nomination by the candidate and a copy of his/her identification document (ID). Candidates will have until 17h00 on 7 November to submit these outstanding documents.
The following election deposits have to be paid by contesting parties and independent candidates:
• R2 500 in an election in a local council with wards, i.e. Inkwanca [EC133] and Mooi Mpofana [KZN223]. It covers all PR and ward candidates of a party;
• R1 500 in an election in a district council, i.e. Ngaka Modiri Molema [DC38]. It covers all PR candidates of a party;
• R1 000 in respect of each party ward candidate if the party is not contesting the PR election; and
• R1 000 for an independent ward candidate.
Political parties and candidates who need more information on the requirements to contest these by-elections should contact the IEC representative at their local Municipal Electoral Office during office hours or visit the IEC website at www.elections.org.za. Contact details for Municipal Electoral Officers are available on the website (contact us).
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible elections
Centurion
30 October 2014
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Please email requests to [email protected]
Also find the IEC on -
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica
• Twitter:@IECSouthAfrica
• You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica
• Mxit: iecsouthafrica