Independent Electoral Commission on voter registration for municipal ward by-elections on 8 March 2023

Voter Registration this weekend for wards to be contested in Municipal Ward By-elections 

Voter registration will be held this weekend for six municipal ward by-elections scheduled to take place on 18 January 2023.

Voting stations in the wards listed below will be open this Saturday, 21 January 2023 and 22 January 2023, from 08h00 to 17h00 to allow all eligible voters to register and for current voters to check their registration details and to provide/update address details where necessary.

Voters should take their identity document (ID) with them – either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary ID Certificate. They will also need to complete their physical home address on registration or provide sufficient particularities of their place of residence. Documented proof of address (e.g. a municipal account) is not required.

Voters may also check and update their details at their local (municipal) Electoral Commission (IEC) office weekdays during office hours.

Voters are reminded that it is a criminal offence to register and vote in a ward in which they are not ordinarily resident.

By- elections will be held in the following wards:  

Eastern Cape

• Ward 15 Ngquza Hill – EC153, with 4 621 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

KwaZulu-Natal

• Ward 24 Ray Nkonyeni – KZN216, with 5 389 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

• Ward 12 uMshwathi – KZN221, with 3 740 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the coucillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

• Ward 02 Msunduzi – KZN225, with 7 178 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

• Ward 25 Msunduzi – KZN225, with 7 670 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Western Cape

• Ward 21 Stellenbosch – WC024, with 5 003 registered voters, which became vacant due to the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Special voting will take place at voting stations as well as through home visits on 07 March 2023 between 08h00 and 17h00. Voters wishing to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between

20 February 2023 and 24 February 2023.

Applications for special votes can also be made online via the IEC’s website, www.elections.org.za. Once voters have applied online they will receive an SMS notifying them of the outcome when their application has been processed. They can also check the status of their special vote application online at www.elections.org.za.

Voters can also apply for special votes via cellphone by SMSing their identity number to 32249 (charged at R1). The SMS application facility is only available for those applying to cast a special vote at their voting station and NOT for home visits.

For more information on these by-elections contact your local (municipal) IEC office weekdays during office hours. Contact details for all IEC offices are available on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za under Contact Us.

Although South Africa no longer has COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Electoral Commission will continue to provide the following to safeguard voters and electoral staff:

• Face masks for voluntary use by electoral staff
• Hand sanitizers at voting stations and home visits

Voters are no longer required to wear masks or face coverings within a voting station, although they may continue to do so at their discretion. Similarly, voters are no longer required to sanitise their hands on entry to voting stations, but may do so if they wish.

Media Enquiries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386

For media interviews: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za

Election timetable for all municipal by-elections called on or before 27 January 2023 to be held on 8 March 2023

The cut-off dates for the various electoral processes for these by-elections are as follows:

(Note: All deadlines are at 17h00 on the date listed)