Over 1,700 objections lodged as IEC prepares to gazette elected councillors

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa has confirmed that it received 1,708 objections as it prepares to gazette a list of elected councillors. This number represents a significant increase of over a thousand objections compared to the 2021 local government election. The IEC is now set to gazette the list of elected councillors, marking the beginning of a 14-day deadline for municipal council meetings to be held.

According to Electoral Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepya, out of the 1,708 objections lodged, 433 were deemed as Section 65 objections as provided for in the Act. The IEC has since finalised 252 of these Section 65 objections, with three upheld and 249 rejected. This process involved 12 recounts and seven edit windows. The commission is still dealing with the remaining issues, including the outcome of a revote at a ward in the Northern Cape scheduled for next week.

The revote in the Northern Cape was necessitated after more than 100 cast ballots weren’t counted in the area. This was due to political party members storming the voting station, disrupting the voting process. The IEC has been cautious in its approach to considering these objections, given the unprecedented number of submissions received. This careful approach has contributed to the delay in finalising the objections.

With the objections process nearing completion, the IEC is now proceeding with the gazetement of elected councillors. This step is crucial for the formation of municipal councils across South Africa. Once the councillors are gazetted, municipalities will have 14 days to convene their council meetings. These meetings are essential for the establishment of municipal governments and the allocation of key positions such as mayors and council speakers.

The IEC's handling of objections and the gazetement of councillors is being closely watched by political parties and observers. The African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) are among the parties that have been actively involved in the election process. The ANC has been casting its net wide for municipal coalitions, while the SACP has taken a more cautious approach, not rushing into coalitions after the local government elections.

The increase in objections lodged with the IEC reflects the heightened political activity and scrutiny surrounding the local government elections. The IEC's careful consideration of these objections demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. As municipalities prepare to convene their council meetings, the focus will shift to the formation of municipal governments and the challenges they will face in addressing local issues.

The local government elections have highlighted the importance of female representation in municipal councils. According to IEC data, PR lists remain the main route for female councillors. This trend is expected to continue as municipalities are formed and councillors take on their new roles. The IEC's efforts to ensure a smooth transition and the establishment of functional municipal governments will be crucial in addressing the needs of South African communities.

Key points

• The IEC received 1,708 objections, a significant increase from the 2021 local government election.
• The commission has finalised 252 Section 65 objections, with three upheld and 249 rejected.
• Municipalities have 14 days to convene council meetings after councillors are gazetted.