Here’s why campaigning the weekend before election day is allowed for the first time

Various political parties are planning a last-minute push over the weekend, drumming up support ahead of Monday’s election.

In previous years, campaigning was not allowed in the period directly before the election. But the social media age has forced the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to look at the law differently.

Political parties will this year for the first time be free to campaign up to midnight before voting day after the IEC has changed the way it interprets electoral regulations.

Before 1994 the electoral law was clear about a so-called cooling-off period before elections day, and this tradition continued in the early years of democracy. But the advent of social media made it difficult to contain campaigning in the days before an election.

Earlier this week, the IEC issued guidelines to parties to clarify the issue.

According to these guidelines, elections day is only on Monday, so this weekend’s special voting days are excluded from this interpretation.

The IEC acknowledges it’s not preferable for political campaigns to take place on these two days, but there’s no legal basis to enforce this. The law is explicit, however, that radio and television adverts are not allowed on these two days.

-EWN

In other news – How much actor William Mnguni (Pastor Mbatha) allegedly earns at Uzalo

No doubt he is currently the face of Mzansi’s most-watched drama series Uzalo. Thaboka William Mnguni is a celebrated South African actor best known for his on-screen character Pastor Mbatha on Uzalo soapie.

On Uzalo, he stars as a self-ordained Bishop and former Pastor and board member of KwaMashu Kingdom Church based in KwaMashu. The bubbly man of the oath was once married to Madongwe, but their marriage went south. Learn More

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