More than 60% of candidates for LGE are men: IEC
In ward contests, men constitute 65% of candidates while women account for 35%
According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), more than 60% of candidates vying for the upcoming local government elections are men. This was revealed by the Commission as they released the finalization of candidates' lists. The data shows that political party candidates are vastly outnumbered by independent candidates, with the former holding a commanding 99.5% share, while the latter makes up only 0.5% of the total candidates.
The IEC's CEO, Sy Mamabolo, provided a detailed breakdown of the demographics of candidates contesting the polls on November 4. He stated that males account for 62% of the candidates, with females making up 38%. In the proportional representation (PR) category, women represent 44% of the candidates, while men account for 56%. When it comes to ward contests, men constitute 65% of the candidates, with women making up the remaining 35%.
The Commission also reported that the youth category, which includes candidates aged between 18 and 39 years, is significantly underrepresented. This age group accounts for just 32% of all candidates. The IEC's actions are in line with the law, following the exclusion of over 2,000 candidates from 45 political parties due to missing the candidate submission deadline.
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