The Electoral Court has authorised the postponement of by-elections scheduled to be held during March due to the continued COVID-19 level 3 lockdown restrictions which prohibit political activities.
This brings to 24 the number of ward by-elections which have been postponed since the start of 2021 due to the second COVID-19 wave and its associated restrictions.
The Electoral Commission approached the Electoral Court for approval to extend the period within which the by-elections scheduled to be held on 3 March 2021 and 31 March 2021, to a date not beyond 120 days from the date of the Court Order.
The Electoral Court on 4 February 2021 authorised the postponement of the following by-elections:
|
Original by-election date
|
Province
|
Municipality
|
Ward/s
|
Registered voters
|
|
3 March
|
Eastern
Cape
|
EC135 -
Intsika Yethu
|
17
|
3 353
|
|
|
Eastern
Cape
|
EC154 -
Port St Johns
|
09
|
3 469
|
|
|
Eastern
Cape
|
EC157 -
King Sabata Dalindyebo
|
43
|
5 716
|
|
|
Eastern
Cape
|
NMA -
Nelson Mandela Bay
|
17
|
7 011
|
|
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
KZN282 -
uMhlathuze
|
15
|
6 442
|
|
|
Mpumalanga
|
MP312 -
Emalahleni
|
33
|
4 749
|
|
31 March
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
KZN262 -
uPhongolo
|
14
|
3 881
|
|
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
KZN282 - uMhlathuze
|
22; 30
|
9 785
|
|
|
Limpopo
|
LIM367 -
Mogalakwena
|
23
|
5 718
|
|
Total:
|
4 provinces
|
9 municipalities
|
10 wards
|
50 124
|
All these by-elections have now been rescheduled for 19 May 2021 along with those by-elections which had previously been postponed as announced in a media release on 11 January 2021 as follows:
|
Original by-election date
|
Province
|
Municipality
|
Ward/s
|
Registered voters
|
|
20 January
|
Gauteng
|
EKU -
Ekurhuleni
|
43
|
17 886
|
|
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
KZN242 -
Nqutu
|
11
|
5 742
|
|
|
Mpumalanga
|
MP325 -
Bushbuckridge
|
21
|
6 609
|
|
3 February
|
Free State
|
FS194 -
Maluti a Phofung
|
25
|
4 330
|
|
|
Gauteng
|
JHB - City
of Johannesburg
|
7 & 17
|
37 953
|
|
|
Limpopo
|
LIM344 -
Makhado
|
38
|
5 681
|
|
|
Limpopo
|
LIM476 -
Fetakgomo Tubatse
|
13
|
6 451
|
|
17 February
|
Eastern
Cape
|
EC441 -
Matatiele
|
11
|
3 813
|
|
|
Gauteng
|
TSH -
Tshwane Metro
|
3; 58; 88;
92
|
55 988
|
|
|
KwaZulu-Natal
|
ETH -
eThekwini
|
110
|
19 291
|
|
Total:
|
6 provinces
|
10 municipalities
|
14 wards
|
163 744
|
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible elections
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
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