Parly to discuss implications of ConCourt’s LGE ruling

PARLIAMENT will today hold an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of the Constitutional Court’s (ConCourt) ruling on the date of local government elections.

The briefing will take place as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will brief the nation on the way forward.

This follows the apex court’s decision on Friday dismissing the IEC’s application to postpone the October 27 local government elections to next year.

The ConCourt further instructed the IEC to hold a special voter registration weekend – the date of

which must be announced within three days of the order which was handed down on Friday.

“The Commission must, within three calendar days after the date of this order, determine whether it is practically possible to hold a voter registration weekend with a view to registering new voters and changing registered voters' particulars on the national voters' roll in time for local government elections to be held on any day in the period from Wednesday, October 27 2021 to Monday, November 1 2021 (both dates inclusive),” the court order reads.

The IEC met over the weekend to chart the way forward in line with an order to make announcements on the electoral programme.

Yesterday, IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela would not be drawn into commenting on the electoral body's meeting over the weekend. She said the electoral body would hold a press briefing today to elaborate on the outcomes of their discussions to deal with matters related to the court judgement.

Meanwhile, parliament's spokesperson Molotho Mothapo said the National Assembly Programme Committee will meet today.

Institute for Election Management Services executive chairperson Terry Tselane said the court's ruling came as no surprise. Hosting the elections over a threeday period would not be possible.