Elections unlikely to change how SA is governed, says analyst
Even if ANC loses its majority, policies may remain largely unchanged, says Frans Cronje, chairman of the Social Research Foundation. Image: IEC website

Home » All Important Local Government Elections Will be 3 August

All Important Local Government Elections Will be 3 August

The local government elections, possibly the most important ever in South Africa’s 21 years under the African National Congress, will take place on 3 August, it was announced on Wednesday. The announcement was made by President Jacob Zuma a day after he survived a motion to impeach him in Parliament. The elections will be a […]

06-04-16 15:33
Elections unlikely to change how SA is governed, says analyst
Even if ANC loses its majority, policies may remain largely unchanged, says Frans Cronje, chairman of the Social Research Foundation. Image: IEC website

The local government elections, possibly the most important ever in South Africa’s 21 years under the African National Congress, will take place on 3 August, it was announced on Wednesday.

vote iec

The announcement was made by President Jacob Zuma a day after he survived a motion to impeach him in Parliament. The elections will be a crucial test for the ANC after years of scandal over Nkandla and growing accusations of corruption and nepotism, as well as allegations of influence by the Gupta family.

The metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Pretoria/Tshwane and Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay in particular have all been mentioned as likely losses for the ANC as middle-class blacks grow disenchanted with the ruling party.

A final round of voter registration – and a chance to physically check if you are registered – will be held this weekend, 8-10 April, and the Electoral Commission urged people, especially young  people, to take the opportunity to register or confirm their registration details at the 22,617 voting stations around the country.

The IEC said in a statement on Wednesday that over 3 million South African voters visited their voting stations during the March registration weekend to register for the first time, to re-register and to update their registration and address details. This included almost 700 000 new voters. It was hoped at least a similar number would register this weekend.