Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe on Thursday officially proclaimed 22 April as the date for the country's general election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency said President Motlanthe had signed the proclamation confirming 22 April as the date on which the national and provincial elections will take place.
The President announced the date of the election on Tuesday during his reply to the Parliamentary debate on his State of the Nation Address, but stated that the proclamation would be made at a later date.
The date will now appear in the Government Gazette and the voting roll has been closed.
Earlier on Thursday, political parties publicly signed a pledge committing themselves to the electoral code of conduct, to which they are also bound under the country's Electoral Act.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) spokesperson Solly Kganyago said in total, 16 political parties had signed the pledge.
The IEC has expressed that it will be ready with its preparations to hold the elections.
