The discussion to determine a date for next year’s local government elections has begun between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
This is after the commission’s meeting with civil society groups and political parties in Cape Town, as part of the preparations towards the elections.
Election analyst and former IEC Commissioner Terry Tselane told YOU FM listeners that the commission normally begins with preparations for the next round of elections immediately after each election.
“I would assume the commission has already begun with preparations for the next round of the elections.
Because this will typically start by going through documents that election observers would have given and just reviewing the process following the elections that they would have had.
After that processes would have been concluded then it will put in place a mechanism to try to address all the issues that they have identified as particular weaknesses.
By now in terms of preparations for elections for next year, there is a lot that has already been prepared and I would assume that the issue at the moment would be consultation with the necessary ministry such as COGTA, because in terms of the constitution it is only the Minister in consultation with the commission who can determine the date of the election,” said Tselane.
Tselane, who is a former IEC Commissioner and Vice-Chairperson, said that unlike during the general elections, it is the minister who sets a date for local government elections.
“The President only has the responsibility in terms of national and provincial elections.
He is the one who determines the date of those elections in consultation with the commission.
But when it comes to local government elections it is the minister of COGTA in consultation with the IEC that determines those dates,” explained the former IEC Commissioner.
Tselane has been a proponent of synchronization of all the country’s elections into one date rather than having elections for national and provincial elections separate from local government elections.
“That decision must be taken by parliament, and parliament does not appear to be ready to harmonize all elections so that they take place on the same day.
Some people have indicated that the reason why they do not prefer that system is because they want to have a situation where from time to time you could have people whose focus is only on local issues,” explained Tselane.
Furthermore, Tselane said synchronising the polls will be cost effective to the IEC and political parties.
“When it comes to harmonizing the elections, in other words having all elections taking place on the same day, it is cost effective in a long run.
This because you don’t have to be reappointing electoral staff, re-training them and publicizing information each every after two years as it is currently the case.
So, in terms of the cost it will be much cheaper as compared to the current arrangement.
It’s just that political parties don’t appear to be ready to have all elections in one day,” remarked Tselane.
Meanwhile, IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo said a final decision is outside the commission’s purview, and no date has yet been decided.
