Next year’s elections will have 22 264 voting stations compared to the 20 859 in 2011, says the Independent Electoral Commission.
The IEC’s top leadership made a show of organisational strength amid worries that potential suspensions could destabilise the organisation.
The IEC will launch an elections drive at quite short notice and to very little fanfare, despite the struggle to get first-time voters to register.
The property company awarded a contract to lease office space to the IEC did not submit its tax clearance certificate, but got the job anyway.
Opposing parties have put the elections first, uniting to try to stabilise a floundering electoral commission.
The ad hoc committee considering the public protector’s report on the procurement of the IEC’s headquarters had more questions than answers.
The Independent Electoral Commission should never become a political football between electoral rivals.
The Electoral Amendment Bill, which gives expatriates the right to vote for the National Assembly, has been approved by all parties except the DA.
Chairperson Lluwellyn Landers has said that the committee will not be doubting the public protector’s investigation into the IEC lease agreement.
Following a court’s decision to rule in favour of six independent candidates in Tlokwe, the credibility of the IEC has been put under the spotlight.