The Electoral Commission today decided to urgently approach
the Electoral Court to seek a postponement of the by-election
in Ward 9 in WC022 – Witzenberg Municipality scheduled
for 21 November 2018.
The Electoral Commission intends filing a notice
with the court seeking condonation to exceed the legal timeframe of 90 days in
which by-elections must be held. The 90 day timeframe expires on 7 December
2018.
The decision of the Electoral Commission
follows complaints received from political parties contesting the by-election
that they had not received reasonable access to potential voters in the ward
for campaigning purposes.
The complaints are related to the granting
of access to registered voters residing on farms in the ward.
Ward 9 contains 3 431 registered voters and
the vacancy arose as a result of the resignation of the councillor.
The Electoral Commission decided to
approach the court for a postponement in order to allow time to resolve the
complaints and to ensure sufficient opportunity for all contestants to have
reasonable access for purposes of canvassing all voters resident on farms ahead
of the elections.
Should the Electoral Court approve the
application, the Electoral Commission will advise the MEC for Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Western Cape to request the
proclamation of a new date and will advise all stakeholders accordingly.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL
COMMISSION
Ensuring free and fair
elections
Centurion
16 November 2018
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