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Local Government Elections
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
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The Electoral Commission has appointed former Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, to lead the process of evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on conditions conducive for free and fair Local Government Elections on 27 October.
Moseneke said: “This is the first time in the history of our nascent democracy that we have faced such extraordinary circumstances. How we respond as a country will have far-reaching consequences for our democracy and for our people,”
The appointment is in line with Section 14(4) of the Electoral Commission Act. This section provides for the Commission, should it deem necessary, to publish a report on the likelihood or otherwise that it will be able to ensure that any pending elections will be free and fair. Moseneke will undertake an urgent appraisal of all the relevant legal, socio-political, health, practical and other considerations, and submit a report to the Commission in July. “In addition to assessing the various factors, the report may also make recommendations of additional measures to further fortify the integrity and safety of the elections,” IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini said at a briefing.
Mashinini said the IEC has, over the past two years, engaged political parties through the National Party Liaison Committee (NPLC), as part of its preparations for the Local Government Elections in 2021. “More recently, it has emerged that the various political parties are divided on whether the upcoming Local Government Elections can be free and fair within the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “While the majority of political parties believe that elections should proceed under the extant Constitutional provisions, some parties have raised concerns that restrictions on campaigning imposed by the national disaster regulations could undermine the freeness and fairness of the elections,” he said.
Election preparations are already at an advanced stage and the Commission is satisfied that it is possible to conduct successful elections within the current circumstances. “The commission is also confident that the special COVID-19 protocols and measures to be put in place for the elections will provide adequate safeguards. These measures have been tested in over 150 by-elections conducted over the past six months,” Mashinini said.
The measures also take into consideration the experiences of a number of other countries in conducting elections successfully during the pandemic.
Mashinini said the Commission is not oblivious to the uncertainties and unpredictability of the pandemic, and the risks associated with hosting events that bring together large numbers of people. “The Commission wishes to benefit from an independent evaluation of all factors that have a bearing on the possibility or otherwise of a free and fair elections,” he said. Mashinini said the proclamation of the elections by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, triggers a series of electoral processes, including the closing of the voters’ roll and the opening of candidate nominations. “This proclamation must take place by early August in order to allow a minimum of 86 days for the Commission to undertake all its obligations, in terms of the elections timetable. “In order to allow the Commission to benefit from the report, it needs to be submitted by mid-July at the latest,” he said.
Who can make submissions?
As part of the process, Justice Moseneke will consider submissions from various stakeholders represented within the National Political Party Liaison Committee and key electoral stakeholders, including the administration of the Electoral Commission.
The process will also consider representations from health authorities, in particular on matters related to the trajectory of the pandemic, as well as efforts to manage, mitigate and reach community immunity through vaccination. It will also engage disaster management authorities, including CoGTA, and other relevant government structures.
Moseneke said he could not reject the request to lead the evaluation, saying it is an “extraordinary assignment”. “I could not ignore the importance of this undertaking within the context of our ongoing journey to entrench and strengthen democracy in our country. “This is the first time in the history of our nascent democracy that we have faced such extraordinary circumstances. How we respond as a country will have far-reaching consequences for our democracy and for our people,” he said.
Despite the tight timeframes, Moseneke said the process must be conducted rapidly and robustly “to consider and assess all factors that may affect or influence the freeness and fairness of the upcoming elections”.
When is the national voter registration weekend?
The Electoral Commission announced that the national voter registration weekend ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections will be held on 17–18 July 2021.
Voters are reminded that for this election the 17-18 July weekend is the ONLY general voter registration opportunity for voters to register and check their registration at their voting stations. However, ongoing voter registration will continue during working hours at local IEC offices until the proclamation of the elections. In the lead-up to this weekend, the Electoral Commission will embark on a nationwide voter education and awareness campaign to encourage all eligible voters to make sure they are ready to participate in the elections scheduled to be held on 27 October 2021. This campaign will span a variety of multimedia platforms including television, radio, outdoor and digital media along with targeted interventions aimed specifically at young, first-time voters. These will include registration initiatives at schools, tertiary education campuses and other opportunities.
In addition, registered voters will still be able to amend their registration details through the “Click, Check, Confirm” functionality on the website of the Electoral Commission. The facility was introduced in 2018 and has been used by over 350 000 voters to update their details.
Over the weekend all 23 146 voting stations around the country will open from 8am to 5pm to assist new voters to register and existing voters to check and, where necessary, update their registration details.
Who can vote and what is the voting protocol during COVID-19?
In order to register as a voter, you must be at least 16 years old, a South African citizen and in possession of a valid South African ID document – either a green barcoded ID book or a smartcard ID. Voters are reminded that they must be registered at a voting station in the ward in which they are a ordinarily resident and must provide an address or detailed description of a place of residence. However, proof of address (e.g. in the form of a utilities account) is NOT required for registration. Voters who have moved house since the last election as well as those with incorrect, incomplete or missing addresses are especially urged to update their details.
Voters visiting a voting station in person to register or update their details are reminded that they must wear a mask or appropriate face covering and observe social distancing. Hand sanitizing facilities as well as stationery will be provided at each voting station. Voters wishing to bring their own pen are encouraged to do so even though pens will be provided and sanitized routinely.
Where can I get more information?
Eligible voters can find out more about where, when and how to register by visiting the Electoral Commission website at www.elections.org.za. From June the LGE 2021 Contact Centre (0800 11 8000) will also be available to assist voters via phone and email (info@elections.org.za). Voters will also be assisted on the Electoral Commission’s Facebook page and Twitter account (@IECSouthAfrica). Existing voters can check their current registration details on the website or by SMSing their ID number to 32810 (cost R1).
The Electoral Commission urges all eligible voters – and especially first-time voters – to make use of the one-and-only registration weekend or the online portal to prepare to vote in October this year.
The IEC calls all political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, the media, business and labour organisations, faithbased organisations and all other stakeholders to join together to encourage voter registration and participation among their staff, clientele, customers and followers.
Let’s register to vote South Africa!
COVID-19 RESPONSE SUMMARY:
- Nelson Mandela
Medical
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gift of the Givers introduced medical intervention in a controlled manner, with the initial focus on health-care professionals at state institutions. Although initially, there was huge diffi culty accessing a supply of masks due to excessive costs and shortages, our organisation managed to source masks and identifi ed hospitals nationally that were in need. The Gift of the Givers team remain committed to providing masks, coveralls, hazmat suits, re-usable and disposable surgical gowns, scrub suits, latex gloves, head covers, shoe covers, goggles, visors and thermal scans, as well enhancing the medical capacity of state institutions with the distribution of portable ultrasound machines, pulse oximeters, laryngoscopes and medicines for general use to support facilities. To date, our team has assisted some 210 hospitals and clinics nationwide, with many more to follow.
In addition, we distributed 2 500 CPAP machines and High Flow Nasal Oxygen Machines to healthcare facilities in great need. We carried out hospital upgrades up to the value of R15 million, as well as the establishment of 10 COVID-19 testing sites and 3 mobile teams. We also installed 37 triage tents in frontline hospitals at a monthly cost of R3 million and distributed 10 000 sets of scrubs to medical facilities.
Water
With an aim to fi ght the spread of COVID-19, Gift of the Givers has in place a number of water projects which remain ongoing to give millions of South Africans access to running water. Having a water supply is not only vital for living, but is regarded as a pandemic safe-guard in the quest to prevent the spread by washing one’s hands. Due to severe water shortages and challenges in obtaining a regular and reliable supply of water, Gift of the Givers has included in its water projects, the distribution of bottled water; delivery of clean water for drinking and hygiene via our three water tankers; and the drilling and equipping of boreholes. Our water tankers deliver 600 000 litres of water per week in the Eastern Cape. In addition, we have drilled 420 fully-functional boreholes in the past two years, providing clean drinking water daily to a number of identifi ed hospitals and many thousands of people.
Food
Providing food and access to basic supply necessities was an area of major concern during the country’s hard lockdown. The assumption was that there would be a breakdown of primary services regarding the delivery of food and basic necessities to vulnerable communities throughout the country, most particularly those residing in rural areas. Gift of the Givers implemented a disaster mitigation plan, which included ensuring disaster preparedness, inclusive of the stockpiling of foodstuffs, medical supplies and sanitary packs for the lockdown period and beyond; arranging with our key suppliers to hold, on demand, essential commodities to ensure immediate availability; monitoring institutions, such as homes for the disabled, orphanages, frail care centres and the like on a regular basis; continuing our feeding scheme at hospitals and other institutions which depend on our services; and increasing co-operation between various stakeholders, from Government and community representatives, to enhance our capacity to deliver emergency and essential services as and when required. Gift of the Givers provided rations to more than 100 feeding centres and has delivered 320 000 food parcels to hungry families across South Africa. In addition, the organisation has played a critical role in ensuring the delivery of fodder, valued at millions of Rand, in order to save the lives of animals and, as a consequence, the livelihoods of needy farmers and their workforces. We envisage a much greater intervention in these areas into the future.
COVID-19 INTERVENTION
Provision of medical supplies by The Gift Of The Givers Team
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LEDA PARTNERS WITH VKB MILLING
To donate food parcels to needy communities
An unintended consequence of the prolonged lockdown, with no real end in sight, is the amplified effect that this is having on local communities that currently have reduced sources of income or access to food and facilities. Through generous donations, the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) in partnership with a Limpopo based milling company, VKB Milling, is putting food on the table for hundreds of poor households to alleviate poverty during the Covid-19 lockdown.
LEDA, through its CSI programme, teamed-up with VKB Milling, following numerous donation requests from different charity organizations for food parcels and otherrelated assistance.
Get Well Charity Organization (GWCO) an NGO based in Lebowakgomo is privileged to be one of the latest beneficiaries of LEDA and VKB’s generosity. The NGO identified 20 families who were in desperate need of assistance and were provided with 20 x 25kg super maize meal. GWCO Founder and Chairperson: Ms. Anne M Kgomo said the lockdown period had affected most families around Lebowakgomo, making it difficult for them to put food on the table.
“This campaign for food parcel donations was formed because not everyone will manage to take care of themselves and their loved ones until the end of this lockdown period. “It’s impossible for the unemployed
CEO of LEDA: Thakhani Makhuvha
and those relying on informal jobs to get through this phase,” said Kgomo. “We are targeting the homes of the most vulnerable where there are unemployed parents, child-headed households and the elderly who are supporting their grandchildren.” LEDA’s CSI Specialist, Ms. Kholofelo Motlharo said there had been an upsurge in the number of calls from charity organizations seeking food relief.
She said LEDA’s CSI programme was used as the mechanism to identify deserving beneficiaries for food relief in the communities. During the handover of the food parcels in a small social distance event Motlharo said, “it is extremely humbling and gratifying to be able to give something back to the community under these difficult circumstances”.
She added that, LEDA, as the provincial agency with specific programmes that are designed to achieve structural change in critical areas of the economy, “is commited to contribute substantively to poverty alleviation and addressing inequalities”. VKB Milling said they are proud to be part of a process that is intended to help “our people.
”In these difficult times, we’re proud to join forces and play such a vital role in supporting people in need, especially during their period of isolation,” said the VKB rep.
Beneficiaries of food parcel donations
For more information: Please contact: Mthunzi Dlamini LEDA Interim Corporate Communications Manager. mthunzi.dlamini@lieda.co.za
Magnifisan maize meal produced in Limpopo
