Number of candidates increased from 2006

The Electoral Commission (IEC) notified party and independent candidates of non-compliance regarding outstanding documents yesterday, 4 April 2011, as required by the election timetable.

“We have been busy capturing and verifying candidates’ details on our systems after the closing on 25 March 2011 of the acceptance of party lists and nominations of candidates for the 2011 Municipal Elections at our local offices,” said Chief Electoral Officer, Advocate Pansy Tlakula.

A total of 1914 candidates did not provide copies of their identity documents, 1501 did not submit their acceptance of nomination and 198 did not provide their identity document numbers.

Those candidates who did not comply have until Friday, 8 April at 17h00, to confirm their identity numbers and submit copies of their identity documents as well as provide acceptance of nomination.

The names of a number of candidates and nominators do not appear on the voters’ roll or on the required segment of the voters’ roll, i.e. registered in the relevant municipality. These participants also have until 8 April at 17h00 to provide the IEC with evidence to the contrary.

As on 4 April 2011, 55 684 candidates will contest this year’s municipal elections. This figure is subject to compliance by those candidates who have been informed by the IEC of non-compliance. The breakdown per candidate per province is as follows:

Of the 55 684 candidates, 37 percent are women and 63 percent are men.

The 2006 municipal elections were contested by 36 475 candidates with 20 679 participating in the 2000 municipal elections.

A total of 121 parties have notified the IEC of their intention to contest the 2011 municipal elections. The breakdown per province is as follows:
 

Please note: Some parties will contest in more than one province

The Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC, Advocate Pansy Tlakula, said she is satisfied with the organised manner in which most parties have submitted their lists. However, a few parties came late to the IECs offices despite widespread announcements made with regard to the cut-off date and time. They could not be assisted and their details were not taken.

“The submission of candidates’ lists is an important date on the election timetable and is seen as the start of the election period. The number of political parties and candidates who indicated their participation (also compared to previous municipal elections in 2006 and 2000), demonstrates that these elections have generated a lot of interest and are important to our communities,” said Advocate Tlakula.

Advocate Tlakula expressed her gratitude to parties for cooperating with the IEC in the manner that they did and urged them to take their responsibilities in respect of the Electoral Code of Conduct seriously.

Parties who will contest more than two provinces in the elections have been invited to make public pledges to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct. The signing ceremony will take place at Gallagher Convention Centre on Wednesday, 13 April 2011. On that occasion the IEC will also hold a draw to determine the order in which the names of the parties will appear on the ballot paper.

The election timetable is available on the Electoral Commission (IEC) website. Please click on the link for easy access, http://www.elections.org.za/content/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=1673

Enquiries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 638