The cooperative governance and traditional affairs department is planning to publish the date of May 18 as the official date for local government elections in the Government Gazette by Thursday.

After the proclamation of the date is published in the Gazette, there will be no further voter registration as the proclamation signals the closing of the voters roll, the department said in a statement on Monday.

"In essence, this gives all eligible voters only until Wednesday to either register to vote or confirm their correct details on the voters roll at their municipal offices."

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe announced the date in Parliament last Thursday.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Elections established to ensure co-ordination of support by government to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in preparation for the elections had expressed full confidence that all systems were in place for a successful local government election on May 18.

"The final engagement with the electoral commission also indicated that their logistical planning is at a stage that required the announcement of the date and its proclamation for them to be able to execute their planning with more certainty," Deputy Minister Yunus Carrim said.

The security cluster of ministers had also reported its readiness in all provinces to ensure that there was proper security before, during and after the elections.

A special focus would be in areas identified as "Hotspots", which included areas affected by the provincial and municipal boundary disputes, and service delivery protests.

The home affairs department, working together with relevant stakeholders, had intensified the identity document (IDs) campaign countrywide, and more people would be able to acquire IDs and vote as a result of the campaign.

All provincial governments had also reported readiness in complying with all legislative requirements to prepare for the election, and to continue supporting municipalities to ensure readiness.

The IMC would continue to co-ordinate and monitor implementations of all support activities from the side of government to ensure that the electoral commission was enabled to conduct a peaceful, free and fair local government election, the department said.

Carrim called on all eligible voters to use the three days before the proclamation of the election date to register and also confirm their correct details.