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The Democratic Alliance committed itself to a peaceful election campaign and challenged every other party to do the same, DA leader Helen Zille said in a statement.

"The DA commits itself to a peaceful election campaign and we challenge every other party to do the same. Let the election be free, fair and without political violence. Let the people decide what kind of governance they want."

Zille said this poll would probably be the "most exciting election yet".

"The ANC is deeply divided and the DA has a chance to take our track record of delivery for all to every South African."

The ANC, DA and the Freedom Front Plus welcomed the announcement of the date for local government elections.

"The fact that South Africa will once again be going to the polls at local government level bears testimony to the maturing and deepening of our constitutional democracy... something that will be giving the country's citizens yet another opportunity to cast their vote for the party of their choice," said ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu in a statement.

FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder said clarity on the date allowed the electorate, political parties and the Independent Electoral Commission enough time to prepare. He encouraged people to ensure they were registered to vote.

"The local government elections are important, specifically because it is the government level which affects all South Africans on a daily basis. Voters should go and vote in order to ensure that they have a say in service delivery in their community. If one does not go and vote you cannot complain afterwards about poor service delivery.

"If opposition voters go and vote in large numbers and opposition parties co-operate sensibly afterwards, the ANC can as a result of the proportional voting system, lose control in certain areas." he said.

Addressing the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, Motlanthe, who is acting president while President Jacob Zuma is abroad, said the date would be formally proclaimed by publication of a notice in the Government Gazette within the next week.

Sokutu called on all South Africans who had not yet registered to vote to make full use of the last voter registration weekend on March 5 and 6.

"Voting is a constitutionally guaranteed right to be exercised by all eligible citizens on who should govern them," he said.