By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has published its timetable of deadlines for candidates and voters after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement that elections will take place on 29 May.
The timetable outlines all the key cut-off times and dates for performing electoral activities.
The commission said in a statement on Monday, that the proclamation of the election date had legal consequences, the first major one being that the voters’ roll has now closed and the second being the publication of the election timetable in the Government Gazette.
“This means no further voter registration may take place, either at a local office or online. Voter verifications as well as other validations are currently under way to ensure that there is compliance with the provisions of the law in respect of eligibility to vote, “the IEC said.
The elections are expected to be the most fiercely contested since the advent of democracy.
Voters will have three ballot papers for the first time due to the participation of independent candidates.
The number of registered South Africans at home and abroad now sits at 27.6 million.
The IEC will publish the final lists of candidates on 10 April, and thereafter certificates of candidature will be issued to certified candidates on 12 April.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the deadline for party and independent candidates to submit nominations is 8 March.
“All independent candidates and political parties who intend to contest this general election must submit nomination requirements by 17:00 on 8 March.
“The Electoral Commission will, after verifying the submitted nomination documents, issue notices on non-compliance where such are warranted.
“These notices will be issued on 18 March, and those issued with such notices must rectify non-compliance by 20 March.
“Our electoral scheme acknowledges that it is a matter of immense national importance for the citizens to know who the nominated candidates are. The publication of the provisional lists of candidates goes to the heart of the vote based on informed choices. Therefore, the provisional lists of candidates will be published for inspection on 26 and 27 March,” the commission said.
Interested parties have until 27 March to object to prospective candidates. The IEC will decide on these objections on 28 March.
“Any person or political party or entity that is not satisfied with the decision of the commission may approach the electoral court to appeal the objection decision,” the IEC said.
Appeals must be lodged by 2 April and the court will issue determinations by 9 April.
The IEC has since published its provisional voter’s roll at offices from Monday.
Submissions for objections are now open for the inclusion or exclusion of a voter on the voters’ roll and will close on 4 March for investigation by the IEC by 11 March.
Meanwhile the commission confirmed that the registration of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party is currently under review by the Electoral Court.
The ANC is challenging the registration, seeking to set it aside and declare it unlawful.
The governing party is also involved in a trademark dispute with the MK Party over logo similarities.
The MK Party hit the headlines when former president Jacob Zuma announced his support for the political newcomers.