The planned voter registration weekend, which was scheduled for 17 and 18 July, has been postponed by a fortnight because of the current third wave of the Covid-19 virus.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that the weekend would now be held on 31 July and 1 August, ahead of the municipal election scheduled to be held on 27 October.
A special meeting was held by the body on Wednesday where it was decided to postpone the registration weekend. It is an opportunity for new voters to register for the voters’ roll, or for people who have moved to update their addresses and change the voting district and ward in which they can vote.
The two-week postponement will have knock-on effects for the planning of the October election, with the proclamation of the election likely to be on 6 August rather than 2 August. Nevertheless, the IEC said in a statement that it ‘remains confident that successful elections can be held within a reduced election timetable of 82 days rather than the original 86 days’.
The IEC said the decision was welcomed by most political parties. It also said it is awaiting for a report from former Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, on whether the October elections will be able to be free and fair, given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. He is due to give his report to the Commission by 21 July.