Election date announced
President Jacob Zuma has announced the date of the fifth national general election, which will be held on Wednesday May 7.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) welcomes this announcement, and says it has been preparing for this year’s election for the past two years.
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela points out that the announcement of the date of the election does not constitute official proclamation of the election date, and says voter registration will continue until the date of the official proclamation of the election date.
Bapela says proclamation of the election date by the President and the provincial Premiers is expected at some stage in February.
“The publication of this official notice triggers the election timetable that establishes deadlines for the submission of candidate lists and applications for specials votes amongst others.
“Consequent to consultation with political parties in the national party liaison committee, the Electoral Commission will publish the full election timetable and will communicate key dates with all stakeholders via the media, its website and publication in the Government Gazette,” says Bapela.
Voters who are registered may check their registration details, including which voting station they are registered at, by SMSing their ID number to 32810.
