IEC: A total of 325 political parties on ballot for local polls
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says there are 325 political parties contesting the local government elections.
The polls are set to be held on 1 November.
The commission’s chairperson Glen Mashinini declared the IEC’s readiness for the polls at the signing of the electoral code of conduct pledge at Nasrec in Johannesburg on Friday.
Fourteen leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly signed the pledge to abide by all rules and regulations set out by the IEC.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was not present.
Mashinini says there are 26.2 million registered voters.
“The voter’s roll contains the names of 26.2 million voters, of which 55% are women. Gauteng province has the biggest representation on the voters roll with 6.1 million voters. Second comes the province of KwaZulu-Natal with 5.4 million voters. The biggest age cohort on the voters’ roll is the 30 to 39 years at 6.7 million, representing 25%.”
The code of conduct will prohibit the using of language which provokes violence, intimidation of candidates or voters and publishing false information about other candidates or parties.
#LGE2021 The list of prohibited conduct further include:
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 1, 2021
-Carrying arms or weapons at political meetings, marches or rallies.
-Bribing voters to vote or not vote.
-Generally abusing a position of power, privilege or influence to influence the outcome of an election.
#LGE2021 Mashinini: Parties and candidates must also inform the public that all people have the right to be free to express their political beliefs and to be part of any political party, and to join in any political campaigns, marches or public meetings.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 1, 2021
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