Moseneke says October polls must be postponed

The polls are scheduled for October.

The Independent Electoral Commission asked Moseneke to head up an inquiry to determine whether free and fair elections could be held amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The inquiry received submissions from members of the public, political parties and health experts, among others.

Moseneke said on Tuesday the postponement of the elections will save lives by avoiding gatherings.

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"If elections were to proceed as scheduled, most of the acts required to be performed in accordance with the draft timetable will not be reasonably possible, starting with the fact-to-face registration of voters who do not have access to electronic registration.

"The provincial and final certification of the voters roll and the finalisation of nomination process of registered parties and independent candidates. This is so because subsisting lockdown restrictions will stand in the way of parties and independent candidates accomplishing acts prescribed by the timetable and electoral laws.”