Constitutional Court Dismisses IEC Application to Have Local Government Elections Postponed
Faizel Patel – 03/09/2021
The Constitutional Court has dismissed the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) application to have the local government elections postponed to next year.
The apex court on Friday ruled that elections has to take place between 27 October and 1 November 2021.
The court instructed the IEC to determine within three days of Friday’s order whether it was possible to hold a voter registration weekend for new voters and to allow registered voters to change their particulars on the roll.
“The commission must notify the minister of (cooperative governance and traditional affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma) and publicly announce its determination as soon as it has been made.”
Dlamini-Zuma has been ordered to issue a new proclamation after the election date has been determined by the IEC.
In July, former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke completed his report advising the IEC not to hold elections this year due to COVID-19, saying they would not be free and fair.
Eligible voters who wished to register to vote have now been given until 10 September to apply, after which Dlamini-Zuma is ordered to make a new proclamation.
