Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has declared August 3, when the country goes to the polls for municipal elections, a public holiday, the presidency said on Friday.
“The purpose is to enable all South Africans who are eligible to vote to exercise their right on August 3, 2016,” the presidency said in a statement.
It quoted Zuma as saying: “Voting is a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution. It is important that citizens are granted an opportunity to exercise this right freely. This is particularly so when they elect this sphere of government that is closest to them.”
The polls are the first that will see the country’s third biggest political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, compete for votes and municipalities and it is widely expected that Zuma’s African National Congress, weakened by scandal and bloody infighting over candidates, will shed support.
African News Agency