The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has noted the announcement made by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that 2021 Local Government Elections will take place on 1 November 2021. This announcement came after the Constitutional Court refused the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) application for the postponement of the elections. 

SALGA, as an association of all the country’s municipalities, together with relevant stakeholders, has been hard at work to ensure that the sector is prepared to usher in the 5th Term Democratic and People-centred Local Government.

In preparation for 2021 Local Government Elections, SALGA requested all municipalities to accommodate political parties with regard to their Outdoor Advertising By-Laws. SALGA reiterates this call to all municipalities to relax Outdoor Advertising By-Laws for a reasonable period leading up to the elections to allow political parties to erect the necessary election posters. The relaxation envisaged relates, amongst others, to the limitation on the number of posters to be erected, any prohibitions on the areas for the display of posters and the payment of deposits for the election of posters. 

Municipalities are, however, required to put arrangements in place to ensure the removal of all election posters by political parties immediately after the elections. Foremost, SALGA has requested that municipalities ensure that all registered political parties contesting the election received equal benefits in this regard.

Over the past few years, there has been a declining interest from young people to participate in local government elections due to various factors. For our democracy to survive all eligible citizens should participate in matters that affect their livelihoods and future.    

SALGA, therefore, wishes to remind citizens of the following: 

The right to vote was achieved through lots of sacrifices and bloodshed;  

By not voting you are letting others make decisions for you;  

It is a privilege to live in a democratic state; many people live under harsh dictatorships;  

By voting, you are shaping the quality of life and the future of your municipalities;  

You have a right as a citizen and a taxpayer to decide how your money is spent. 

Participation and active citizenry is a cornerstone of democracy    
 

SALGA therefore appeals to all eligible and voters to register and verify registration status during the voter registration weekend of 18 and 19 September 2021, from 08H00 – 17H00.  To verify registrations status, citizens may also visit IEC website: www.elections.org.za

IEC Home - Electoral Commission of South Africa

The Independent Electoral Commission is a permanent body created by the constitution to promote and safeguard representative democracy in South Africa. Although publicly funded and accountable to Parliament, the commission is independent of the government. Its immediate task is the impartial management of free and fair elections at all government levels.

www.elections.org.za

  or  SMS ID numbers to 32810 . 

   

Issued by South African Local Government Association