The 2021 local government elections has been set down for 1 November, as announced by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“After consultation with the IEC, we have come to the determination that this year’s Local Government Elections will be held on the 1st of November 2021. This is in in accordance with the Constitution,” explained the Minister.

The decision is in line with a Constitutional Court order that dismissed the IEC’s application for a postponement, it stated that the IEC must hold elections between 27 October and 1 November this year.

In the interest of allowing as much time as possible for preparation, the department opted for the last possible date.

“We could have chosen the originally proclaimed day of the 27th of October 2021, but we have chosen the most outer date as the IEC indicated that it will need as much time as possible to prepare for the elections.”

“These elections are important in advancing our young democracy. They mark the 21st anniversary since the establishment of a democratic local government system in our country,” said Dlamini-Zuma

As the voter registration weekend has been set for 18 and 19 September. The official proclamation of the elections will take place on 20 September, just a day after.

This election will only be the 6^th of its kind in the country’s 21 year democracy.

The Minister closed the briefing by cautioning South Africans to take care while participating in election proceedings as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Fellow South Africans, let me also caution as I stated in the beginning that we are going to hold the elections during a pandemic that continues to ravage the whole world. We therefore urge everyone to still exercise caution and observe protocols and regulations as we go to register, campaign and to vote,” said the Minister.

Rumours of a 4^th wave are already on the horizon, and many say the campaign trail is a breeding ground for the deadly virus.