Local government elections tribunals and petitions

Local government elections tribunals and petitions (1) The Chief Justice shall establish such number of ad hoc local government elections tribunals as are necessary to hear whether— (a) a person has been validly elected as a councillor; or (b) the office of a councillor has become vacant. (2) A local government elections tribunal shall be presided over by a magistrate of competent jurisdiction sitting with two legal practitioners appointed by the Chief Justice. (3) A person may file an election petition with a local government elections tribunal to challenge the election of a councillor. (4) An election petition shall be heard and determined within thirty days of the filing of the petition. [clause (4) amended by section 15 of Act 13 of 2025] (5) A person may appeal a decision of a local government elections tribunal to the Constitutional Court. (6) A councillor whose election is petitioned shall hold the seat in the council pending the determination of the election petition. (7) The Chief Justice shall make rules for the functions, composition, appointment of members, tenure of office of members, procedures and jurisdiction of a local government elections tribunal.