Hlabisa declares ‘all systems go’ for local government elections

Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says preparations for the November 4 local government elections are on track, but municipalities must ensure voting stations have water and sanitation.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has declared “all systems go” for the November 4 local government elections, saying government is ready for the polls despite a tight ballot-printing deadline and water shortages that could affect voting stations.

Speaking to the SABC, Hlabisa said government was satisfied with preparations for the elections, including special voting on November 2 and 3, following a Constitutional Court ruling that required the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to include previously excluded candidates.

“I made a call to the chairperson of the IEC on behalf of the government as the chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

''We are satisfied, and we are ready as a country to host the elections, from the special votes Monday to Tuesday and the actual voting day for the general public on the 4th of November.

''But the IEC is a leading body in terms of logistics, the printing of the ballot papers and the management of the election process,” Hlabisa said.

The Constitutional Court ordered the IEC to include 181 ANC candidates who had initially been excluded from the elections. The commission subsequently extended the relief to 32 other political parties in similar circumstances, affecting 107 municipalities.

The ruling added to the IEC’s workload, with the commission required to print an additional 6.6 million ballot papers. The IEC expects to complete the additional printing by October 30, five days before election day.

Hlabisa said the IEC had confirmed it would work within the available time to comply with the court judgment.

He said government departments, police and other sectors were ready to support the electoral process.

Hlabisa identified water provision as a key responsibility for municipalities, particularly with high temperatures expected during the elections.

He said schools designated as voting stations had been identified and that the recruitment of election staff had been reported to the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

“The municipalities have an obligation to ensure that all voting stations, schools, have water,” he said.

“Where schools do not have containers, municipalities must make a provision in terms of water tankers to ensure that we do not have people collapsing during the voting day simply because there is no water.”

Hlabisa also encouraged voters to bring their own drinking water, particularly in communities already experiencing supply disruptions.

The minister acknowledged that water shortages in parts of the country could affect voting stations, particularly facilities that rely on flush toilets.

He referred to shortages in areas including Bronkhorstspruit and parts of the Eastern Cape, saying disaster management officials would assess affected areas and consider alternative arrangements before election day.

Hlabisa said providing drinking water should be manageable, but sanitation would also need to be addressed where supplies remained disrupted.

He urged voters not to allow service delivery problems to deter them from voting, saying the elections offered an opportunity to choose councillors who could address persistent challenges, including unreliable water supplies.

“This is an opportunity you should not miss,” he said.

Hlabisa also said schools being used as voting stations would not hold examinations on November 4, as arrangements had been made to prevent clashes between voting and school activities