To Postpone or Not To Postpone? South Africa’s Local Elections Hang In The Balance

DIRK KOTZE|

EFFORTS are under way to postpone South Africa’s local government elections, set for October 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elections in October would have ensured that the poll met the current constitutional requirement that local elections be held every five years, and within 90 days of the date of the previous municipal elections.

The problem is that the country’s constitution doesn’t pronounce on postponement of elections beyond the 90 days’ window period. Because of this, the electoral commission has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter.

The electoral commission’s application to the Constitutional Court comes after it accepted the findings of an inquiry into the feasibility of the October elections being free and fair, amid challenges posed by the pandemic.

The inquiry found that it was unlikely that the elections would be free and fair because of the health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,