One SA Movement leader Mmusi Maimane said it is possible for the October 27 local government elections to go-ahead under Covid-19 circumstances.
Speaking at the inquiry set up to probe the feasibility of free and fair elections during the pandemic, led by former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, Maimane said there are conditions that can allow for the elections to continue.
“There is a possibility of being able to maintain the right to life and achieve the democratic project on the set date of the 27th of October. Scientists and the global community can agree that the pandemic will be with us for a number of years. So given a postponement, you are not going to change the conditions and they are not going to change materially. The Covid scenario is a scenario with us and it is going to be with us for a number of years and ultimately we cannot depart from what is our constitutional provision of holding elections every five years,” said Maimane.
The inquiry is aimed at probing whether or not the IEC will be able to conduct and deliver free and fair local government elections in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maimane said safety measures can be put in place to ensure that citizens’ lives are not put at risk when they go and vote come election day.
“Covid protocols can be upheld and should be followed. It is not sine qua non to suggest that holding an election on the 27th will mean a super-spreader event. There are a few things that can be done to ensure that we don’t achieve a super-spreader event. There should be a pre-health assessment of all polling officials. We already have a vaccination programme in place that can ensure that they are all pre-tested," he said.
“The IEC has in of itself the capability of staggering of votes. Elections are held over three days rather than on one [day]. Special votes can be cast on the Monday and Tuesday of the election. So you avoid a scenario where elections are only on the 27th and you have a situation where more citizens are compelled to only vote on that day. The option can be provided for them to vote on day one and day two.
“If we were to allow voters to vote closer to home, we could set up mobile voting units for people to come through and cast special votes. This is particularly for citizens who would feel I have underlying comorbidities, have not been vaccinated, my right to life is important but that does not cancel my right to vote. The IEC should not be able to say to itself that this pandemic is a surprise. It is something that has been coming for a while and given that the IEC should make all the adequate preparations, budgeting requirements and expansion of voting opportunities so that we achieve the right to life and voting.”
However, Maimane said in the eventuality that there were to be a postponement of the elections, it cannot be longer than six months "because then in that instance you have to fulfil the regulatory processes that govern local government elections".
Moseneke said it would be essential to obtain scientific data that would stipulate whether it is safe for people to go and out and vote on October 27.
The inquiry continues.
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