As the election date for the country’s next local government elections draws nearer, the IEC is gearing up efforts to ensure free and fair elections on March 1.

On a local level, 229 716 eligible voters have registered to cast their vote within the Makhado Municipal Area. The number of voting stations in the area total 211. Political parties contesting the lections in the area are the ANC, ACDP, Ximoko, UDM, AZAPO, Dabalorivhuwa, DA, ID, PAC and VF+. There are also a number of independent candidates, including M P Sambo, S M Bani, T E Mushapho, M W Masia, R B Madzimbalala, L Magoro, M G L Lebopa, M F Mukwevho and P R Silika.

As for Makhado (Louis Trichardt), the wards contested are Ward 20 and Ward 21.

In Ward 20, with the municipal show hall as local voting station, the candidates are T D Mutsharin (ACDP), Dudley Malete (ANC), R J Mudau (AZAPO), Abraham du Plooy (DA), Sipho Masuka (ID), T M Mashau (PAC), G A M du Plessis (VF+) and T M Lambani (UDM).

In Ward 21, with the municipal library as local voting station, the candidates are Elizabeth Joubert (ACDP), T G Nchaba (ANC), M D Mulaudzi (Dabalorivhuwa), Jacques Smalle (DA), P B N van der Lith (VF+) and L P Mashau (UDM).

Within the Musina Municipality, 18 900 eligible voters registered for the upcoming elections. The number of voting stations total 22 and the political parties contesting the elections include the ACDP, ANC, AZAPO, DA, PAC, UDM and Ximoko. In total there are 76 candidates, including two independent candidates.