This is according to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, who told journalists a proclamation will follow soon after.

"That should put everyone’s mind at ease that the election date will be announced within 15 days as of tomorrow, the president will proclaim soon after announcing, so there shouldn’t be a lag between the time he announces and the time he proclaims, all depending on his schedule on that particular day on which he will announce," Magwenya said.

There were expectations that Ramaphosa would make the announcement during his state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday evening as he had used the event to announce the 2019 general elections five years ago however, Magwenya dismissed suggestions Ramaphosa was delaying the announcement of the election date.

This state of the nation address is different and unique in so many ways and I think it’s important that it is allowed its own expression, and that South Africans can take out of it the celebratory element and remember we are marking 30 years of our democratic dispensation," Magwenya added.

Ramaphosa, who is recovering from a bout of flu, is expected to deliver his speech at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday.

Magwenya said the president’s team was with him until about 10pm on Tuesday the 6th of February 2024 going through his draft speech and by then his health had improved significantly.