Proposed timeline

Monday, 24

Commencement of the review (kick-off meetings and setting up office.)

Tuesday, 25

Preparation of draft agenda for meeting with the Electoral Commission and draft timetable for the Inquiry.

Wednesday, 26

Meeting with Commissioners to finalise office set up, logistics and proposed timetable.

IT and communication set up.

Thursday, 27

Meeting with National Political Party Liaison Committee; and Distribution of official statement and contact details.

Friday, 28

Dispatching invitations for submissions to:

• The Electoral Commission;
• Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs ("COGTA"), including the disaster management unit; and
• Department of Health.

Tuesday, 1

Dispatching invitations for submissions to:

• Independent medical experts;
• Election monitoring organisations; and
• Civil society.

Wednesday, 2

Dispatching invitations for submissions to:

• All registered political parties.

Friday, 4

Written submissions due from the Electoral Commission.

Written submissions to include key background information including technical readiness, the statistics on local government elections in South Africa since 1994, the Commission's standard / criteria for freeness and fairness and COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Media release inviting any member of the public to submit written or voice notes on the Inquiry's website.

Tuesday, 15

Written submissions due from independent health experts and election monitoring bodies.

Friday, 18

• Written submissions due from COGTA and the Department of Health, political parties and civil society; and
• Written submissions and voice notes due from the general public.

Monday, 21 to Friday, 25

Consideration of written submissions and voice notes.

Friday, 25

Publication of a schedule for oral submissions.

Monday, 28 to Friday, 2

Hearing oral submissions from invited parties.

Monday, 5 to Tuesday, 20

Drafting of the report.

Saturday, 17 to Sunday, 18

Proposed voter registration weekend.

Wednesday, 21

Submission of the report.

End of July and no later than 2 August

Potential declaration by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the local government elections.

Wednesday, 27

Date announced by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the local government elections.