South Africa’s municipal elections will take place on 3 August, President Jacob Zuma announced on Wednesday.

The move gives political parties a little less than four months to campaign.

“The minister of cooperative governance & traditional affairs will follow the necessary legal procedure to proclaim the date and undertake any other requirements,” the presidency said in a statement.

The announcement comes three days before the final voter registration weekend, set to take place on 9 and 10 April.

“The president has further encouraged all South Africans who are eligible to vote, in particular the youth who would be voting for the first time, to register for the local elections during the voter registration weekend,” the presidency said.

“We urge all those who are eligible to vote register to vote and those who have not checked their names to do so on Saturday and Sunday this weekend so that together we continue to re-affirm and deepen our democracy,” said Zuma. — © 2016 NewsCentral Media