Voters have plenty of choice as 54 parties contest Northern Cape elections - IOL

ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga, PA mayoral candidate Lezelle Jackson, DA provincial chairperson Lisa Schickerling, EFF deputy provincial secretary Francis Thulo and the PA’s Ferguson Morris Moses at the pledge-signing ceremony this week.

With less than a month until the local government elections on November 4, voters will be spoilt for choice as 54 political parties compete for control of municipalities in the Northern Cape.

Political parties signed the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) electoral code of conduct this week.

IEC provincial electoral officer Elkin Topkin said the youngest candidate was 18 years old, while the oldest was 82.

“There are 54 parties, 4,347 candidates and 13 confirmed independent candidates.

“We predict an improved voter turnout due to shorter queues, less time spent at the voting station and faster ballot counting. We have invested substantially to enhance the voter management devices that were not performing optimally during the last two general elections. Their applications and entire ICT infrastructure have undergone extensive technical and digital upgrades.”

Topkin added that they had received 32,249 applications for special votes across the province. Special voting will take place on November 2–3.

IEC provincial electoral officer Elkin Topkin.

Among the political parties contesting the elections in Sol Plaatje are the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), African National Congress (ANC), Afrika Mayibuye Movement, African Transformation Movement, All Citizens Party, Azanian People’s Organisation, Community Alliance South Africa (CASA), Congress of the People (COPE), Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Economic Liberators Forum South Africa, GOOD, Kimberley Action Group, Labour Party of South Africa, National Coloured Congress, Next Generation Government, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum, United Africans Transformation and United Democratic Movement.

Olebogeng Appie is also standing as an independent candidate.

While the ANC has announced five potential mayoral candidates, Pantsi Obusitse, chairperson of the community crime-fighting group Operation Wanya Tsotsi, is ranked number one on the party’s Sol Plaatje Municipality list.

ANC Youth League regional secretary Beauty Blennies comes in at number five on the Sol Plaatje Municipality list.

Sol Plaatje speaker Dipuo Peters, Sonja Bosman-Mogorosi, Rosie Ludick, Nomazizi Shwababa, Nomzanga Rosemary Riet, ANC chief whip Martin White, Isaac Ruiter, Robert Kok, Frikkie Banda, Derick Korkie, Thapelo Nkukane, Isaac Dioka and Sabrina Engelbrecht are among the ANC members who may return as councillors.

Operation Fiela chairperson Thabiso Louw is standing as the ANC’s candidate for ward 31.

ANC Frances Baard regional chairperson and Frances Baard executive mayor Patrick Marekwa is ranked number one on the party’s Frances Baard District Municipality list.

Former Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni appears on the Frances Baard ANC list at number eight.

Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett’s name does not appear on any of the ANC lists, although she was shortlisted as a possible mayoral candidate.

Meanwhile, DA councillor Elize Niemann stands at number one on the Frances Baard District Municipality list and number four on the Sol Plaatje Municipality list.

DA mayoral candidate Heinrich Pieterse is at number one on the Sol Plaatje Municipality list, followed by Christopher Whittaker at number two.

The EFF’s mayoral candidate for Sol Plaatje Municipality is Member of Parliament Lorato Tito, while Thandeka Landella will contest Ward 10, Pontsho Mocwana will vie for Ward 12 and Kenneth Kock will stand in Ward 16.

Elizabeth Johnson stands at number one on the GOOD Party list.

The Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum, led by Dennis Pienaar, will contest 33 wards.

The PA’s mayoral candidate is Lezelle Jackson, followed on the list by D’Artainian Lucas, Collin Gerald Speek and Pape Matanki.

COPE will punt Job Mogorosi as its number one candidate on both the Frances Baard District Municipality and Sol Plaatje Municipality lists. He will also stand as a ward councillor candidate in 27 wards in Sol Plaatje Municipality.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) mayoral candidate is Wilhelm Reichert, with El-Marie Wilken at number two, James van Wyk at number three and Johan Dawid Griesel at number four.

Former DA councillor and CEO of the Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sharon Steyn is listed at number 11 on the Sol Plaatje Municipality list.

Estelle Davies is number one on the FF+ list for Frances Baard District Municipality.

Community Alliance South Africa (CASA) provincial leader Herbert Japhta is listed at number one on the Sol Plaatje Municipality list. He will also contest wards 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 26, 27, 30, 31 and 33.

Olebogeng Appie is the only independent candidate contesting the local government elections in Sol Plaatje Municipality.

Kimberley Action Group (KAG) convenor Boyce Makodi is number one on the party’s Frances Baard and Sol Plaatje municipality lists. He is also standing in wards 7, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 19. The KAG will contest 33 wards.

The South African Communist Party (SACP), which will contest local government elections separately from the ANC for the first time, has identified Elizabeth Block as number one on its Sol Plaatje Municipality list.

The SAKK Military Veterans Party, represented by Ronald Sauls, Ignatius Geard and Arnestu Kabihola, will compete in 33 wards.

Representatives of political parties, including the ACDP and MK Party, at the pledge-signing ceremony.

A total of 54 political parties will contest the local government elections in the Northern Cape on November 4.