South Africa’s Election Panel Outlines Preparations

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission is preparing for national and provincial votes to happen in May next year, Chairman Glen Mashini said.

The vote has to take place between May 7 and Aug. 5 and after the panel met with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ramaphosa said the election must happen before the end of May, Mashini told reporters at a press conference televised by broadcaster eNCA. The vote will most likely be held on a Wednesday, he said.

Ramaphosa will lead the ruling African National Congress in next year's vote as the party seeks to maintain the majority it's held since 1994. While the ANC had its worst performance since 2016 municipal elections, the biggest opposition parties are faced with leadership tussles and allegations of graft. The ANC's move to replace Jacob Zuma as the country's president in February also boosted the party and may have taken away the opposition's biggest election weapon.

Read more about South Africa's opposition parties' fighting

To contact the reporter on this story: Rene Vollgraaff in Johannesburg at rvollgraaff@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Gordon Bell at gbell16@bloomberg.net, Renee Bonorchis

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