IEC REQUESTS THAT ELECTION DAY BE MADE A PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has submitted an official request that election day should be named a public holiday.

South Africans will go to the polls to vote in the local municipal elections on 1 November.

Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said on Friday that they believe it should be a public holiday in order for people to be allowed to cast their vote and ensure it’s a free and fair election.

“Let there be no people who have to go to work so that everyone has an equal opportunity to go to the station and record their political choice.”

Since 1994, every election day, whether it’s been local or national, has been declared a public holiday. The IEC is confident that 1 November will also be declared a public holiday, but the official submission still has to take place.

Earlier the Department of Basic Education had to reschedule three exam papers that were set to be written on the same day as the municipal election day. The Department managed to move the three papers to the last Friday in October so that matric students would still be able to write their final exams without hiccups.

Image credit: Mail & Guardian