No delay nor crisis as far as election date is concerned, says The Presidency

CAPE TOWN - The Presidency said there’s no crisis regarding the declaration of the country’s next election. 

It’s been widely expected that President Cyril Ramaphosa may announce a date for the seventh poll when he delivers the State of the Nation (SONA) address Thursday night. 

But his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said there’s no haste just yet. 

By law, the country’s next poll should be held between May and August. 

Magwenya said a date can be expected within 15 days from Thursday. 

“The president will proclaim soon after announcing, so there shouldn’t be a lag between the time he announces and the time he proclaims all depends on his schedule on that particular day on which he will announce.”

Magwenya said there’s never been a timeline for announcing a date, and therefore there’s been no delay on the part of the president. 

“There’s no crisis as far as the election date. There’s anticipation, there’s excitement, rightly so in a democracy. But there’s no delay.”

The Electoral Commission of South Africa needs at least 90 days from the date of proclamation to prepare for a poll.