The Constitutional Court has declared that Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s proclamation of October 27 as the municipal elections date is unconstitutional.

It’s ordered her to select a date on which to hold the elections, which must be between October 27 and November 1 this year.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) should then determine within three calendar days, whether it is possible to hold a voter registration weekend.

The aim is to register new voters and change registered voters particulars on the national voters’ roll in time for local government elections.

This comes as the apex court has dismissed the IEC’s application to postpone the polls to next year.

The IEC’s application was made based on recommendations of the Moseneke inquiry.

The Commission’s Advocate Wim Trengove told the court that it would be impossible to hold free and fair elections before November.

But the Constitutional Court had questioned why the IEC did not approach Parliament to allow it to postpone the local government elections.

Meanwhile the judgement was not unanimous, which shows that there has been a dissenting view from the Constitutional Court justices. The minority judgement has yet to be published.

[Header image: IEC]