All by-elections are now postponed.
All by-elections are now postponed.
The Bulletin reported on 16 March that The Electoral Commission will urgently approach the Electoral Court to postpone all scheduled by-elections as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is particularly important to residents of Secunda. A vacancy arose when the councillor of ward 30, Cllr Tim Denny, resigned. He relocated to the Sasolburg area.
Several other by-elections were to be held across the country with one in Emalahleni as well.
The Electoral Commission was able to obtain an order in the Electoral Court of South Africa that postponed the by-elections by no more than 120 days from the date of the order. The order date is today, 19 March 2020.
The Bulletin spoke to Jane Sithole, DA Provincial Leader in Mpumalanga.
“The DA in Mpumalanga welcomes the decision by the Electoral Court to postpone all scheduled by-elections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jane, “In the face of increasing transmission risk of the Covid-19 virus, the Democratic Alliance has also taken the decision across the Province to pause all political activity which involves human-to-human contact or close proximity between people.”
“Given heightened awareness and concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, significant numbers of voters might stay away from voting stations. This would have resulted in low participation levels, which will undermine the freeness and fairness of elections,” Jane continued.
The full court order is hereby attached.
All by-elections are now postponed.
The Bulletin reported on 16 March that The Electoral Commission will urgently approach the Electoral Court to postpone all scheduled by-elections as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is particularly important to residents of Secunda. A vacancy arose when the councillor of ward 30, Cllr Tim Denny, resigned. He relocated to the Sasolburg area.
Several other by-elections were to be held across the country with one in Emalahleni as well.
The Electoral Commission was able to obtain an order in the Electoral Court of South Africa that postponed the by-elections by no more than 120 days from the date of the order. The order date is today, 19 March 2020.
The Bulletin spoke to Jane Sithole, DA Provincial Leader in Mpumalanga.
“The DA in Mpumalanga welcomes the decision by the Electoral Court to postpone all scheduled by-elections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jane, “In the face of increasing transmission risk of the Covid-19 virus, the Democratic Alliance has also taken the decision across the Province to pause all political activity which involves human-to-human contact or close proximity between people.”
“Given heightened awareness and concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, significant numbers of voters might stay away from voting stations. This would have resulted in low participation levels, which will undermine the freeness and fairness of elections,” Jane continued.
The full court order is hereby attached.
