The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs notes and welcomes the ruling by the Constitutional Court to suspend by 18 months its ruling that the voters’ roll is unlawful. This decision will enable the August 2016 municipal elections to continue despite the defects on the voters’ roll.

The Committee is of the view that the 18 months given to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is adequate to correct the defects on the voters’ roll and ensure compliance with the law. The Committee will follow the elections and engage the IEC to establish the steps the organisation will take to remedy the defects on the voters’ roll.

Following this ruling, the Committee is confident that the IEC will now refocus all its energy on delivering credible, free and fair elections.

Issued by: Parliament of South Africa