Eight by-elections, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, have been postponed following a decision taken by the Electoral Court.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) approached the court earlier this week, seeking a postponement of the by-elections, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the country would be under level 4 lockdown restrictions as Covid-19 cases surge across the country during the third wave.

Level 4 lockdown restrictions include a ban on all gatherings – except for funerals – including political gatherings.  

The by-elections are postponed for a period not exceeding 120 days from the order date. The IEC was also granted leave to approach the Electoral Court for further relief if necessary.

The postponed by-elections were to take place in 48 voting stations with 71 305 registered voters. Forty candidates from 14 political parties and three independents were contesting the elections.

The affected by-elections are:  

• Eastern Cape: 
  • Ward 03 in the Makana municipality – EC104
• KwaZulu-Natal: 
  • Ward 98 in the eThekwini municipality – ETH
  • Ward 05 in the eDumbe municipality – KZN261
• Northern Cape: 
  • Ward 01 in the Sol Plaatje municipality – NC091
• Western Cape:
  • Ward 51 in the City of Cape Town municipality – CPT
  • Ward 63 in the City of Cape Town municipality – CPT
  • Ward 01 in the Cederberg municipality –WC012
  • Ward 02 in the Swartland municipality –WC015

“The Electoral Commission will continue to assess the prevailing conditions including the level and scope of restrictions imposed in terms of the Disaster Management Act to determine an appropriate date for the by-elections to be held. The Electoral Commission will engage with the relevant provincial MECs for Cooperative Governance and other key stakeholders including political parties and candidates who are registered to contest the by-elections in this regard,” the IEC said.