By: Staff Reporter
The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) has announced that the candidate nomination process will close on Tuesday.
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said political parties and independent candidates intending to contest the Local Government Elections scheduled for 01 November 2021 have until tomorrow to submit their nominations and prescribed election deposits.
“In terms of the election timetable, the cut-off date is Tuesday, 21 September 2021 at 17h00,” she said.
The IEC further stated that only registered political parties may contest elections of municipal councils by way of party lists.
The organisation has taken flack for re-opening the process after the African National Congress had missed the earlier deadline in almost 90 municipalities. Bapela stressed the importance of adhering to the deadlines and paying the necessary fees.
“Failure to make payment for election deposits, to submit a party list, candidate names or sufficient supporters on 21 September 2021 by 17h00 will result in automatic disqualification of the party or independent candidate affected. A party or candidate who does not comply with the submission of candidates or payment of deposits will not have an opportunity to remedy the defect,” she said.
The Commission said it would refund a party any deposit paid if it is allocated at least a seat or receives 10% of the total number of votes cast in the municipal council it is contesting.
Bapela said parties and independent candidates could submit their documents online at www.elections.org.za or visit a designated local Commission office during office hours.
“The Electoral Commission will have until Friday, 24 September 2021, to notify parties of any candidates appearing on multiple party lists. The affected parties will have until 25 September 2021 to decide whether to remove such candidates and order their lists. The final list of candidates will be certified and published on Wednesday, 29 September 2021,” she said.
The prescribed election deposits are:
i. R3 500 in respect of an election in a metropolitan municipality;
ii. R2 000 in respect of an election in a local municipality with wards;
iii. R1 000 in respect of an election in a district municipality;
iv. R1 000 for an election in a single ward for independent candidates and political parties not contesting for PR election in that municipality.
