Dlamini-Zuma gazettes October polls despite postponement recommendation
Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says she'll go ahead and gazette the date for local government elections, despite a recommendation that the polls be postponed.
Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke made the recommendation following an inquiry into whether free and fair elections were possible in this pandemic.
Dlamini-Zuma says she's still required by law to gazette the date, which is 27 October.
"So in gazetting the date, which will do today [Tuesday] we are no ways seeking to contradict the inquiry conclusions of the IEC contemplated actions. We are just merely fulfilling our constitutional and statutory obligations.”
She says gazetting the date will also allow the IEC's case to have context when it approaches the Constitutional Court for an extension.
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"We are also aware the calling of the elections and gazetting will mean the voters roll will be sealed.
"The IEC will have to go to the Constitutional Court on an urgent basis and hopefully in their papers this batch will be taken into account.
"If the Constitutional Court allows for the postponement of course we will abide."
