The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, CoGTA, is planning to publish the date of 18 May 2011 as the official date for Local Government elections in the Government Gazette by Thursday, 10 March.
After the proclamation of the date for local elections is published in the Gazette, there will be no further voter registration as the proclamation signals the closing of the voter’s roll for the upcoming Local Government elections.
In essence, this gives all eligible voters only until Wednesday, 9 March to either register to vote or confirm their correct details on the Voters Roll at their Municipal offices. The Deputy State President, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, announced the Local Government election date in Parliament on Thursday 3 March, and following the announcement, citizens still had the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Voter Registration weekend of 5 to 6 March to register and confirm their correct details on the voters roll, and to also register at Municipal offices.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Elections which had been established by Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister Sicelo Shiceka, to ensure coordination of support by Government to the Independent Electoral Commission (“the Electoral Commission”) in preparation for the elections has expressed full confidence that all systems are in place for the country to have a successful Local Government election on 18 May.
“The final engagement with the Electoral Commission also indicated that their logistical planning is at a stage that required the announcement of the date and its proclamation for them to be able to execute their planning with more certainty,” Deputy Minister Carrim added in support of the sentiment expressed by the IMC.
The Security Cluster has also reported its readiness in all provinces to ensure that there is proper security before, during and after the 2011 local government elections. A special focus will be in areas identified as “Hotspots”, which include areas affected by the provincial and municipal boundary disputes, service delivery protests etc.
The Department of Home Affairs, working together with relevant stakeholders, has intensified the Identity Document (IDs) campaign countrywide, and more people will be able to acquire IDs and vote as a result of the campaign.
All provincial governments have also reported readiness in complying with all legislative requirements to prepare for the election, and to continue supporting municipalities to ensure readiness.
The IMC will continue to coordinate and monitor implementations of all support activities from the side of government to ensure that the Electoral Commission is enabled to conduct a peaceful, free and fair 2011 local government election.
Deputy Minister Carrim has called on all eligible voters to use the three days before the proclamation of the election date on the government gazette on Thursday to register and also confirm their correct details on the voters’ roll in all Municipal Offices.
For any other enquiries regarding this statement please contact:
Vuyelwa Qinga (Ministerial Media Liaison)
Cell: 082 877 3898
Source: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Election date due to be gazetted by Thursday, 10 March
