The Electoral Court today extended the postponement of by-elections it had previously granted due to the on-going impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In terms of the Court Order dated 19 March 2020, the by-election ought to have proceeded by 17 July 2020. Today the Electoral Court granted further extension for the by-elections to proceed by 18 November 2020.
In all its recent decisions postponing by-elections due to the pandemic, the Court had granted the IEC leave to approach it on the same papers, duly supplemented as necessary, for further and/or alternative relief (including for an extension of the period within which the affected by-elections should be held), should it be necessary to do so.
The full list of by-elections postponed in terms of this court order is as follows:
|
BY-ELECTION DATE
|
PROVINCE
|
MUNICIPALITY
|
WARD NUMBER
|
DATE OF PROCLAMATION
|
|
MARCH
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Gauteng
|
Emfuleni
|
16
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Gauteng
|
City of Johannesburg
|
68
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Gauteng
|
City of Johannesburg
|
120
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Gauteng
|
City of Johannesburg
|
130
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
KwaZulu Natal
|
Msunduzi
|
25
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
KwaZulu Natal
|
Mtubatuba
|
10
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Limpopo
|
Polokwane
|
14
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Mpumalanga
|
Emalahleni
|
18
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Mpumalanga
|
Bushbuckridge
|
31
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Northern Cape
|
Khai-Ma
|
4
|
14 Feb 2020
|
|
APRIL
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 April 2020
|
Free State
|
Matjhabeng
|
3
|
6 March 2020
|
|
8 April 2020
|
Gauteng
|
Ekurhuleni
|
60
|
6 March 2020
|
|
8 April 2020
|
Gauteng
|
Ekurhuleni
|
103
|
6 March 2020
|
|
8 April 2020
|
Gauteng
|
Tshwane Metro
|
3
|
6 March 2020
|
|
8 April 2020
|
KwaZulu Natal
|
eThekwini
|
32
|
6 March 2020
|
|
8 April 2020
|
KwaZulu Natal
|
uMvoti
|
7
|
6 March 2020
|
|
29 April 2020
|
Gauteng
|
Ekurhuleni
|
89
|
27 March 2020
|
|
29 April 2020
|
Limpopo
|
Ba-Phalaborwa
|
19
|
27 March 2020
|
|
29 April 2020
|
Mpumalanga
|
Govan Mbeki
|
30
|
27 March 2020
|
|
MAY
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Eastern Cape
|
Makana
|
14
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Eastern Cape
|
Amahlathi
|
1
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Eastern Cape
|
Mbizana
|
24
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Northern Cape
|
Dawid Kruiper
|
10
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Western Cape
|
George
|
8
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Western Cape
|
George
|
14
|
9 April 2020
|
|
13 May 2020
|
Western Cape
|
George
|
27
|
9 April 2020
|
In May the Electoral Court also granted the postponement of by-elections scheduled for June by 120 days for the same reasons and under the same provisos.
The Electoral Commission will continue to monitor progress in the fight against the pandemic and any changes to the lockdown restrictions with a view to rescheduling the various by-elections as soon as possible to ensure continuity and effectiveness of government at municipal level. Among the necessary conditions for free and fair elections include the ability of candidates to campaign effectively ahead of the elections.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free and fair elections
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
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