Candidate nomination to reopen after voter registration weekend: IEC

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chair, Glen Mashishini has announced the commission's revised timetable following Friday's Constitutional Court ruling that the polls go ahead this year.

"This registration weekend will offer all eligible citizens and opportunity to register or update their registration details. All the 23 151 voting stations will be opened at 8am until 17:00 on both days." 

The apex court dismissed the IEC's application to have the election postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The apex court set aside last month's proclamation of the election date, saying it was invalid and unconstitutional. It said a new proclamation must be made.

It ordered that voting take place between the 27 October and 1 November.

Mashinini said they have communicated their preferred election day to Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

"The minister will on 20 September proclaim the date of the election and this proclamation will cause the voters roll to be closed for the purposes of the 2021 municipal elections. It is the commission's wish that the election date is announced sooner." 

The commission will also reopen the candidate registration process, saying a new deadline will be set.

"Persons can only be nominated as candidates once registered on the voter roll and provided they are registered in the relevant segment concern. It is, therefore, necessary to allow political parties and independent candidates an opportunity to nominate candidates after the registration weekend." 

It will be a lifeline for the ANC, which had failed to register scores of candidates in various municipalities after missing the initial deadline two weeks ago.