General: Elections registration now at end of month

In an announcement that a City Press report says has serious implications for the holding of the local government elections, which have been set for 27 October this year, the Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that it would be postponing its registration weekend by two weeks. Making the announcement during an emergency IEC party liaison committee meeting, its chairperson Glen Mashinini said the registration weekend that was initially scheduled for 17-18 July would now only take place on 31 July and 1 August. The Covid-19 third wave was cited as the reason for the postponement. The 27 October date for the elections remains in place but will still be subject to the findings of former deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke’s report, following his inquiry on whether the holding of the elections would be feasible under the current Covid-19 climate.