The Electoral Commission welcomes the decision by the Electoral Court to postpone by-elections in wards in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Northwest and the Western and Eastern Cape, scheduled for June in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Electoral Court today granted the application of the Electoral Commission to postpone the by-elections scheduled for 3 and 10 June along with associated activities including voter registration.

The court ruled that the by-elections could be held beyond the 90 day legislated period for the filling of councillor vacancies but not beyond 120 days from the date of the order. The timetable for the by-elections will be revised accordingly.

The Electoral Court also granted permission to the Electoral Commission to approach the Court again for further or alternative relief (including a further postponement) should this be necessary.