In a unanimous ruling, the court argued that this made the meeting of deadlines imposed by the electoral calendar less important.

Our decision, they explained, refers to the power of the Electoral Commission to modify dates. When that power is legally exercised, it inevitably changes the deadlines, in which case the modified dates must be complied with.

This way, according to local analysts, the African National Congress (ANC), which underwent an initial delay in the nomination of its candidates for local governors, will be able to complete the lists in time.

The Constitutional Court’s decision means that the November 1 deadline is kept for the municipal elections announced by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Consequently, the electoral register will be completed and finished by midnight tomorrow, September 21.

According to the IEC, more than 600,000 people registered to vote last weekend, of which just over 39,000 used the on-line voter registration system, which will close today at midnight.

Dlamini-Zuma said she expects much higher youth participation. ‘If they vote, their voice will count and determine’ who governs and who does not.

pgh/lcr