Intention to proclaim election date

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Pretoria – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Des van Rooyen has expressed his intention to gazette and proclaim the date of the coming elections on Monday, 23 May 2016.

This in order to allow for the commencement of the electoral processes in terms of the Election Timetable.

As part of the preparations towards the successful Local Government Elections, the law requires that government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) consult continuously.

Part of the consultation was on the date of the elections, which has already been announced by President Jacob Zuma to take place on 3 August 2016.

“There have been further consultations on the need to proclaim the date of the local government elections to enable the Independent Electoral Commission to prepare timeously,” the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

Based on these consultations with the IEC, the Minister will gazette and proclaim the date of the elections on Monday.

The consequence of this proclamation is that the Voters’ Roll will close on Monday, 23 May 2016 at 17h00.

In this regard, the IEC will in due course announce plans to allow all those who wish to register and provide their addresses or sufficient particularities to do so, before 17h00 on Monday, 23 May 2016.

“We call on all South Africans who have not yet registered and provided their addresses or sufficient particularities, to do so before 17h00 on Monday, 23 May 2016 at the IEC offices in their local municipalities,” said Minister van Rooyen.

“By registering and voting in the coming elections, we will be strengthening our democracy.” – SAnews.gov.za