Pretoria - North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape, has agreed to the postponement of the by-elections in ward 1, 4, 11, 12, 13 and 20 of Tlokwe Local Municipality.
The by-elections were to take place on 23 October but will now occur on a date, which will soon be made public in the Provincial Gazette.
According to the provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the MEC’s decision follows a request by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) that concerns have been raised by political parties and candidates who have an interest in participating in these elections and that those concerns will have an impact on the viability for the conduct of free and fair elections on the mentioned wards.
Section 8 of the Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000 stipulates that “the Commission may request the Ministers or in the case of a by-election, the MEC, to postpone the voting determined for an election if the Commission is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to conduct a free and fair election on that day”. – SAnews.gov.za
