Unprecedented number of registered Mekoko

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday May 14, 2014 15:24

 

Voters will have plenty of independent candidates to choose from

Last month the commission registered 200 council candidates standing as independents, just two weeks into the month, the number increased to 223.  The number of parliamentary independent candidates last month was 19 and four havr since registered to bring the number to 21.  The IEC spokesperson, Osupile Maroba said the numbers are likely to increase since they have not sorted out many other applications for independents.

He noted that the recorded number of independent candidates is unprecedented, which he described as part of democracy.

The IEC chief election officer Dintle Rapoo has disclosed there are 40 pending applications from independent candidates, mostly for council seats. Only three are parliamentary candidates. These applications are still being assessed, as candidates should not have a criminal record.