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Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today Thursday 28 October 2010 welcomed the vote in the National Assembly during which Members of Parliament adopted proposed amendments to the Municipal Electoral Amendment Bill.

Speaking in Parliament, Minister Dlamini Zuma said, "The right to vote by all eligible citizens has been a major tenet of our struggle for freedom and stands as one of the cornerstones of this country's democracy, now firmly entrenched in our constitution. This young democracy is proud to have held four successful national elections and as you know, we are currently preparing to have local government elections in 2011."

"As a caring government, we believe strongly in the right of all citizens, including those who may be physically challenged, to use their vote to choose the leaders they want to have govern this country. Therefore, when the Independent Electoral Commission identified certain aspects of the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act, 2000, which needed to be augmented to cater for the needs of all citizens, we felt this needed to be addressed before the 2011 Local government elections. The proposed amendments contained in the Bill resulted from consultations convened by the IEC with various stakeholders, more particularly the political parties."

Outlining some of the proposals in the Bill, Minister Dlamini Zuma said, "The Bill provides for, among others:
• The election timetable - if the party omits certain documents, the Commission must notify the party in writing by no later than the relevant date and time specified in the election timetable;
• The Bill provides for the submission of an undertaking binding the party, its representatives, members and supporters to the Code, as well as the declaration that none of the candidates is disqualified from standing for elections. The Commission must remove from the party list the name of a candidate who is not registered as a voter on the municipality's segment of the voters roll. The party must be informed of this.
• A party contesting elections in more than one municipality must deposit to the Commission Head Office by a bank guaranteed cheque the details of each municipality to which the deposits apply;
• Presiding officers will be given powers to re-demarcate the boundary of a voting station in order to ensure proper control and security at that voting station;
• If voting takes place in more than one room or separately enclosed area, two agents in respect of each room or area in a case of a party contesting an election, and one agent in a case of an independent ward candidate;
• Presiding officers will be empowered to assist voters with physical challenges, including those who are blind or unable to hear;
• Special votes would be allowed to those who are unable, on voting day, to cast their votes at the voting station or district at which he or she is registered; and
• To empower the Commission to apply to the Electoral Court for an extension of the period to determine and declare results of the election if unable to do so within the specified seven-day period."

"These amendments will facilitate the efficient preparation for and management of the 2011 local government elections and will now be deliberated upon in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)."

"I urge all citizens in South Africa, especially the young people who will for the first time have an opportunity to cast their votes, to ensure you are in possession of valid identity documents and are registered to vote in the 2011 Local Government Elections. Your vote in your right," concluded Minister Dlamini Zuma.