IEC calls on all S Africans to vote

Pretoria - The Chairperson of the IEC, Dr Brigalia Bam, has called on all in a position of authority to allow their fellow South Africans time off to visit their voting station on Election Day to exercise their democratic right to vote.

This following a number of queries received by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on whether Election Day is a public holiday.

"President Jacob Zuma declared 18 May 2011 as a public holiday on 16 March 2011. The purpose of declaring it a public holiday is to enable all registered voters to participate in the municipal elections by casting their vote at their voting station," the IEC said in a statement.