By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
As South Africa prepares for what’s set up to be a competitive election year with upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) as the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has greatly emphasised the importance of media upholding and safeguarding electoral democracy.
“In a rapidly evolving information environment this responsibility has become even more significant. Journalists are required not only to report on events but also to navigate an increasingly complex digital ecosystem where misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly and undermine public confidence in democratic elections” said IEC Electoral Officer in Limpopo, Nkaro Mateta.
On Tuesday the IEC had concluded their Elections Training Workshop for journalists. The IEC have also noted that they intend to prepare for the elections to be held in November and that the first voter registration weekend opens up on the 20th and 21st of June.
“The timing of this registration weekend aligns with the current planning assumption, namely that the commission must stand ready to administer elections whenever they are lawfully called. This alignment ensures procedural certainty, operational readiness, and full compliance with the legal framework.” said IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo.
Yesterday, the IEC held a media networking session in Pretoria via the National Press Club, where Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo noted the Commission’s awareness of population growth since the last elections.
“At the moment there are 23,000 voting districts across the country meaning there are 23,000 voting stations across the country. But because there’s been population movements since the last elections at the moment, we are proposing an additional 290 voting districts and therefore voting stations.” said Mamabolo.
Mamabolo also noted this week that there are now a record 508 political parties and IEC still expects more than 100,000 candidates to compete for just 10,000 council seats which marks a significant increase from 2021.
The increase is set to cause complications at the ballots, specifically with metros such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, where these increases are set to be more prevalent. Political parties are expected to submit nomination documents.