South Africa’s electoral body has extended the nomination of candidates for the upcoming local government elections, giving a lifeline to the ruling party.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) party was at risk of further losing its control in key municipalities after having missed an August deadline for nominations in nearly 100 municipalities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the extension saying it was “in line with constitutional and legislative prescripts”.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party has opposed the extension and has vowed to “explore all legal avenues” to stop it.
Voters will elect councillors for more than 250 municipalities across the country between 27 October and 1 November.
In 2016, ANC lost the administrative capital Pretoria and commercial capital Johannesburg to the DA.
