PRETORIA, Feb 28 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South African employers to observe May 8, the day of National and Provincial elections, as a public holiday and encourage staff to use the day to exercise their right to vote.
President Ramaphosa on Tuesday declared the day a public holiday.
In a statement, the Presidency said all Premiers have also declared May 8 as the date of the election of provincial legislatures.
These proclamations have been published in the Government Gazette.
“The President has in terms of Section 50(1) of the Constitution dissolved the National Assembly. This follows a National Assembly resolution adopted on 21 February 2019,” the Presidency said.
The President has also in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act of 1994 declared May 8 as a public holiday throughout the country.
Welcoming the proclamation, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the development triggers the official election timetable which the Electoral Commission will discuss with the National Party Liaison Committee before publishing in the Government Gazette.
The IEC said the proposed election timetable spans the next 71 days and lays down the key dates and deadlines for various milestones until voting day on May 8.
“The proclamation places the preparation of the elections into a different trajectory. It gives a greater impetus to the currently unfolding election preparations,” IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said.
The Commission will now have to escalate preparations so that all electoral activities are accomplished in time for Election Day. – NNN-SAnews
