South Africa Extends Cut-Off to Register Election Candidates
- Decision benefits ruling party, which missed previous deadline
- ANC risked ceding control of 35 municipalities to opposition
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South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission gave political parties more time to register candidates for upcoming local government elections, handing a lifeline to the ruling African National Congress, which risked ceding control over key towns after missing a previous deadline.
“The commission has taken advice on the matter and is of the view that amending the timetable to re-open nominations is reasonably necessary in the circumstances,” IEC Chairman Glen Mashinini said at a briefing Monday.