Altogether 38 registered political parties, including two independent candidates in the Free State, have committed to free and fair elections – signing the electoral code of conduct pledge.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) held the provincial signing ceremony on Friday, 19 April, at the Kopano Nokeng Country Lodge and Conference Centre in Bloemfontein.
Paving the way for the upcoming elections on 29 May, the ceremony applies to all the election contesting 38 political parties and two independent candidates, Sesing Johannes Ramotswabodi and Louis Petrus Liebenberg. This is the first time independent candidates will be contesting for provincial elections in the Free State.
Newly formed, as well as established political parties, signed the pledge committing to abide the bylaws and code of conduct ahead of this upcoming seventh general election held in post-apartheid South Africa. The first-ever in the era of democracy was held on 27 April 1994.
Candidates are vying for the 30 available seats in the Free State Legislature. They will be campaigning to convince the 1 455 447 registered voters of the population of approximately 3 million to vote for them in the hope to win the province for five years. Three political parties had representation in the provincial legislature this just-ended term, spanning from the 2019 national and provincial election. The ruling party, the ANC, had the majority seats: 19. The opposition party, the DA, had six seats; and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had four seats.
Mosotho Moepya, the IEC’s national chairperson, reiterated the call for political party leaders to adhere to the code of conduct, and to also play their role ensuring the credibility of the South African elections through the signing of the pledge.
According to the IEC, the number of registered voters was below the target of 50%, and contrasted the true reflection of the Free State population. Of the 1 455 447 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots on the 29 May, males represent 44,55% and females 55,45%.
Jabulani Tshabalala, IEC’s provincial electoral officer, again lamented youth apathy, pointing to a low number of registered voters as evidence. He said though 16 136 new voters managed to register during voter registration period and online process, the youth accounted for the lowest number still. Nationally, in the age cohort 18 to 39 years, the youth accounts for 42% (11,7 million) voters on the voters’ roll.
