Testing the Right to Vote in Free, Fair, and Regular Local Government Elections in South Africa: Challenges from the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article uses the doctrinal legal research method to examine challenges that faced South Africa in preparing for 2021 local government elections. The health risks posed by COVID-19 pandemic led national executive promulgate emergency regulations and impose lockdowns combat spread of coronavirus. Inadvertently, these measures threatened freeness fairness elections restricting political mobilisation freedom movement association. They also Electoral Commission attempt, through an inquiry a court application, postpone discussion shows contrary its contentions on impossibility holding 2021, had unwittingly demonstrated it was well-prepared mitigate risk infections. concludes postponement not warranted would have legitimacy constitutional crises. It undermined democratic foundation African Constitution unlawfully infringed right participate free, fair, regular