Cape Town – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said that the ability to hold free and fair elections elections in 2021 will totally depend on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Briefing MPs on Tuesday, the IEC said that while Covid-19 would have a huge bearing on next year’s elections, preparations were well under way.
The commission was briefing the National Assembly’s Home Affairs committee on its state of readiness for the 2021 local government elections.
Glen Mashinini, IEC Chairperson, said that the pandemic will be under control by the time the elections were due to take place.
“We remain, however, hopeful that the pandemic will be behind us or will be under control so that the elections can take place in conditions conducive to free and fair elections,” said Mashinini.
He added that the coronavirus has also disrupted the work of the Municipal Demarcation Board, which means confirmed ward boundaries had not been concluded on time.
The portfolio committee on Home Affairs has urged the electoral commission to move fast to update the details of 9% of voters who may have incomplete address information or no address listed on the voters roll.
