JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Thursday that it is ready for 2019 national elections.
IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said in a press briefing that the IEC has made significant progress in updating the voters' roll, which stands at more than 21 million South Africans.
As many as 83 percent of voters now have complete addresses on the roll, he said.
Besides, the commission has recruited and trained more than 6,000 elections officials and increased voting stations by 300 to 23,000.
Mamabolo said the commission has received 47 applications from new political parties, bringing the total number registered to 285.
IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini encouraged South African youth, who comprise of 50 percent of the population, to register and vote.
Mashinini encouraged all the political parties to campaign peacefully.
South Africa's exact elections date will be announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. It is expected that the elections will take place in May.
