The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced on Monday that it will reopen candidate registrations following Friday’s ruling by the Constitutional Court that the local government elections would go ahead this year.

The IEC had applied to the court to have the elections postponed, saying it could not be held safely owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The court ruled that the elections should take place this year between October 27 and November 1.

IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini said Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will proclaim the new date of elections.

Voter registration will take place on the weekend of September 18 and 19 with voting stations open between 8:00 and 17:00.

Meanwhile, political parties and independent candidates intending to contest the local government elections will have another chance to submit their candidate lists.