Tension between political parties in certain areas of the country is a concern, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday.
Thoko Mpumlwana, deputy chairperson of the IEC, asked parties attending a code-of-conduct signing ceremony in Pretoria to conduct themselves peacefully.
”There are still pockets of political tensions in some corners of our country. In certain instances these tensions spill over and affect the electoral process.”
She did not name areas where tensions were brewing, merely asking parties to abide by the election code of conduct.
It was one of three issues that Mpumlwana asked parties to be on the look-out for ahead of the March 1 local government election.
”We need a better turnout than the 48% we had in the 2000 municipal elections. I would not say how much better, but more than last time,” she said.
Mpumlwana also asked parties to remind their supporters that they can only vote where they are registered.
The national signing ceremony went off without any incident such as Tuesday’s refusal of the Christian Democratic Party to sign the Gauteng provincial code of conduct.
Representatives of the African Christian Democratic Party, African National Congress, Azanian People’s Organisation, Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Independent Democrats, Inkatha Freedom Party, National Democratic Convention, Pan Africanist Congress, United Christian Democratic Party, United Democratic Movement and United Independent Front signed the pledge. Several parties did not turn up for the ceremony.
Mosotho Moepya, deputy chief electoral officer of the IEC, said the signing ceremonies are symbolic.
”When a party submits its party list, it commits itself to the code conduct; that fact that they [the Christian Democratic Party in Gauteng] did not sign is not a violation but rather a change to miss a public opportunity to commit themselves,” he said.
Voter apathy
Apparent voter apathy for the upcoming local government election is a concern, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) said on Tuesday.
”Provincial offices of Salga have since May last year been working with municipalities and ward councillors to encourage citizens’ participation and understanding of their civic duty and vote,” said Salga spokesperson Mbangwa Xaba.
Xaba said Salga is happy that the re-delimitation of wards and matters of re-demarcations of cross-border municipalities has been concluded in time to accommodate voter registration process, thus clearing any confusion that it could have caused.
”We remain confident that those South Africans who have registered to vote would come in numbers to vote on election day.”
He added that all municipalities are ready to assist the IEC with the election. This is despite the increase in the number of councillors and wards after the re-delimitation process by the Municipal Demarcation Board.
At the same time, the IEC has increased the number of voting districts to meet the needs of voters.
”Provincial offices of Salga have been kept fully informed of all these developments and have been able to engage with member municipalities and these developments have been attended to,” Xaba said. — Sapa