Staff Reporter
SOUTH Africans are voting in local government elections today, with millions of registered voters choosing councillors for the country’s 257 municipalities. The Electoral Commission says voting stations are ready and has urged candidates and voters to help ensure a peaceful, orderly and safe election.
Polls opened at 07:00 and are scheduled to close at 21:00. Voters who are still in the queue when voting stations close will be allowed to cast their ballots.
During a media briefing on Election Day, Electoral Commission chairperson Mosotho Moepya outlined the rules governing conduct at voting stations.
Political parties and candidates are prohibited from campaigning within voting station boundaries. This includes displaying campaign posters or billboards, or attempting to influence voters to support or oppose a candidate or party.
Marches are also prohibited across the country on Election Day.
A record 29.2 million voters are registered to cast ballots at 23,696 voting stations. About 136,790 candidates are contesting approximately 10,526 council seats.
The elections will determine councillors for eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district councils and 205 local councils. The councils will then select their mayors.
Special voting took place on 2 and 3 November for approved voters, either through home visits or at voting stations. About 2.6 million applications were approved, with between 1.4 million and 1.9 million special votes cast.
Election Day has been declared a public holiday.
Sources: Aljazeera/Reuters/sanews/Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)
Photo: GCIS
