Few hours left to register: IEC

There are only a few hours left for eligible voters to register to vote in the May 7 national elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Monday.

"President Jacob Zuma announced on Friday that he and the nine provincial premiers would proclaim the national and provincial elections today signalling the official start of the election timetable, beginning with the closing of the voters' roll for the elections," spokeswoman Kate Bapela said in a statement.

"Anticipating a last minute rush, chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said the IEC would deploy additional staff to its local offices and would ensure all eligible voters who are in the queue at 5pm today are given a chance to register."

Following the proclamation the IEC would consult the national party liaison committee on the election timetable, she said.

The timetable, which sets the dates for activities such as the deadline for the submission of party candidate lists, would be gazetted on Wednesday.