Everything in place for 9 December by-elections
Centurion - The Electoral Commission is pleased to announce that everything is in place and ready for by-elections taking place tomorrow (9 December) in 24 wards across 17 municipalities in all nine provinces.
Seventy seven (77) candidates representing 14 political parties along with 18 independent candidates will contest the ward by-elections with voting taking place in 118 voting stations between 7am and 9pm. A total of 171 829 voters appear on the certified voters’ roll for these elections.
Special voting through home visits (3088) and at voting stations (3067) takes place today for those voters whose applications for special votes were approved.
Of the 24 by-elections:
- 2 are in the Eastern Cape in EC129 - Raymond Mhlaba and EC137 – Engcobo
- 2 are in the Free State in FS192 – Dihlabeng and MAN-Manguang
- 3 are in Gauteng in EKU - Ekurhuleni
- 1 is in KwaZulu-Natal in ETH - eThekwini
- 2 are in Limpopo in LIM341 – Musina and LIM351 - Blouberg
- 5 are in Mpumalanga in MP324 – Nkomazi (2 wards) and MP325 – Bushbuckridge (3 wards)
- 1 is the North West in NW381 – Ratlou
- 2 are in the Northern Cape in NC076 – Thembelihle and NC084 - !KHEIS
- 6 are in the Western Cape in CPT - City of Cape Town (1 ward), WC026 – Langeberg (1 ward), WC032 – Overstrand (1 ward), WC045 – Oudtshoorn (3 wards)
Voters are reminded to:
- Only vote at the voting station where they are registered. Voters can check their registration and voting station by SMSing their ID number to 32810 (cost R10
- Bring their green barcoded ID document or smartcard ID
- Wear a mask and observe social distancing at all times
- Bring their own pen if they wish to avoid using the ones provided
COVID-19 protocols:
The Electoral Commission has implemented strict safety measures and protocols at voting stations to ensure the safety of all voters, election staff, observers and other stakeholders.
These include:
- Strict social distancing practices both outside and inside voting stations
- The mandatory wearing of masks over nose and mouth of all persons within the boundaries of the voting station
- The application of hand sanitisers to all persons entering and exiting the voting station
- The replacement of the traditional indelible ink marker pens with an indelible ink liquid which will be applied from a bottle to the thumb of voters using cotton buds which will be disposed after each use
Protective equipment including masks, gloves and face shields will be worn by election staff at voting stations and additional safety equipment will be worn for staff conducting home visits for those voters who are physically disabled, infirm or pregnant.
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za
Also find the IEC on -
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica
• Twitter: @IECSouthAfrica
• You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica
