Johannesburg - The picture of a political party's leader is usually printed on the voting ballot, the IEC said on Wednesday.
“It is the party leader who is often the presidential candidate,” Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) spokeswoman Kate Bapela said.
“As soon as the president proclaims elections, we will produce an election schedule.”
The schedule would include a deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for Cabinet and provincial legislatures.
“Only then (when the lists are registered) will we know whose picture will be printed on the ballot paper.”
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on Tuesday announced that Agang's leader Mamphela Ramphele would be the DA's presidential candidate in the general elections this year.
On Wednesday, DA federal chairman Wilmot James said although Ramphele was the presidential candidate she was not yet a DA member. He said this would be handled by a technical committee.
James said the two parties intended on merging, but had not yet done so.
“The DA and Agang SA have agreed to merge.”
The merger would happen “as soon as possible”, said James.
Agang SA reportedly intended electing another leader to contest the general elections.
“Our leader is taking us where we never wanted to go. If she wants a merger with the DA, she should have consulted us first,” acting Agang Gauteng secretary Yako Sakhiwo told The New Age.
He said most Agang SA members learnt via television of its founder's decision to become the DA's presidential candidate.
In response to the report Ramphele told SABC radio news that Sakhiwo was part of an EFF “infiltration team” and not an Agang member.
Sapa