[ad_1]
IEC.
Duncan Alfreds, News24, archive
- The IEC has spent R3 million in this week’s by-elections.
- IEC electoral director Sy Mamabolo says 95 districts will be contested.
- Of these, two municipalities have been dissolved in the Northern Cape.
As South Africans prepare to go to the polls for the by-elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African Electoral Commission (IEC) has budgeted R3 million for personal protective equipment (PPE).
IEC electoral director Sy Mamabolo said the commission had to endure a series of budget cuts.
“Therefore, we have had to adjust future plans [with something] within what is available. At the same time, the commission plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to see the need to keep funding levels at an optimal level to ensure that the mandate that we have to fulfill for the country is not affected by lack of budgetary restrictions. ”
He said the projects that were delayed included a pilot project that involved the use of technology in select districts.
A range of sanitizing materials, including hand sanitizers, wet wipes, masks and containers, have been purchased to ensure compliance with Covid-19 regulations, it said. A total of 28,000 face masks, 3,600 face shields, 65,000 rubber gloves, 1,500 biohazard containers, 1,150 disinfectant wipes, 1,300 liters of disinfectants, and 10,000 markers of social distancing were obtained.
READ | IEC will support Parliament but will remain on the sidelines of the debate on the new electoral system: President
Voting is scheduled for Wednesday from 07:00 to 09:00 at 455 polling stations, he said. He added that 609 133 voters were certified and 23,008 received approval for special voting.
The North Cape will win the majority of the by-elections with 20 districts contested in eight municipalities. Two of these municipalities have been dissolved, which means that PR councilors will also be voted on.
In the Eastern Cape, 19 districts will be contested in 13 municipalities.
There’s also:
- 14 districts in Gauteng in six municipalities;
- 12 districts in KwaZulu-Natal in nine municipalities;
- six districts in the northwest in four municipalities;
- 11 districts in the Western Cape in five municipalities;
- five districts in Mpumalanga in three municipalities;
- four districts in Limpopo in four municipalities;
- and four districts in the Free State in three municipalities.
He added that the results would be released on Thursday.
“The by-elections are being contested by 40 political parties with a total of 444 candidates certified as contenders. This includes 19 independent candidates,” he said.
He said that 69% of the candidates were men and 31% women.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
