Polokwane – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in Limpopo has said the number of independent candidates registered to contest the upcoming local government election has declined in the province.
The election body said 118 independent candidates registered for the August 3 local government election, compared to 200 in 2011.
“There is a decline in the number of independent candidates contesting wards in the province in all municipalities,” said IEC provincial chair Nkaro Mateta on Friday.
The number may decrease as we are still verifying if they are all qualifying as per IEC regulations, added Mateta.
She said they would know on Monday if candidates qualified to run for councillor positions.
With the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) now also in the political arena and to challenge the ruling African National Congress party (ANC), political tensions in the province have already increased sharply.
The IEC is also facing the challenge of entering the troubled Vuwani area which has been under heavy police watch since late April when violence broke out.
Vuwani and residents of surrounding areas boycotted the IEC’s voters registration drive as part of their revolt campaign against the Municipal Demarcation Board decision to move them from Makhado municipality to a new entity in Malamulele.
The protests were marked by widespread violence with schooling grinding to a halt as more than twenty schools were burnt or badly damaged by protesters.
Meanwhile, the political battle to control the new entity is busy unfolding with the Democratic Alliance, EFF, Ximoko Xa Rixaka, and the Malamulele Association targeting wards currently under the control of the ANC.
While Vuwani residents have vowed not to vote, a decision which could result in the eight wards remaining without councillors, some communities that opposed the incorporation of their area under the new entity, plan to field an independent candidate.
At least three senior ANC members have said the Vuwani issue would cost the ruling party power in the region.
“We try to persuade traditional leaders to accept the decision to be incorporated in the new entity, they are refusing and don’t want to listen, they said we betrayed them,” said a source.
Two other ANC sources blamed their party for failing to consult properly after reports that Vuwani residents were disgruntled about decision to incorporate them into the new municipal entity.
“Chances are high that we will not rule in that municipality, it maybe ruled through collusion,” said one source.
African News Agency