ANC: Covid-19 could see elections postponed
The African National Congress (ANC) has admitted that the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a postponement of the local government elections.
The polls are scheduled to be held next year.
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, says the party’s national executive committee (NEC) would support a call to postpone the elections if the country is still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"What we are saying, in term of the Constitution, the local government elections are supposed to take place [in 2012], if the Covid-19 conditions continue we will be directed by the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission), we will be directed by the courts as to where it is possible to postpone.
"If the conditions are not okay for us to continue with elections, we have no choice to ensure that we have local elections of 2021.”
Magashule added that the governing party would also like to see the country merge its elections into a single poll.
"Obviously it will need to amend to the constitution and if we have to amend the Constitution we will engage other parties, the EFF has made a point about one single election.
"Of course there are many other parties, those that are in Parliament we will engage with them and if we agree we will have to amend the Constitution.
"As South Africans, I'm sure, it might be better to have one election because we may be able to deal with many, many issues, including party fundings," he says.
Magashule addressed a media briefing on the party’s NEC meeting at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.