President Kgalema Motlanthe has extended the date for a reference group on presidential pardons to complete its work within two months, the presidency announced on Tuesday.

This comes after a request for deadline extension from the Political Parties Reference Group.

The group was given an extension until 30 November.

"The extension has become necessary as a result of the extension of the submission of applications from April 15 to May 31 and the large number of the applications received by the Reference Group."

Former president Thabo Mbeki announced in the national assembly last year that he was establishing a process to advise him on the granting of the Presidential pardons to persons who alleged that they had committed political offences.

In terms of this announcement, application for pardons had to be submitted by a date in April and a Political Parties Reference Group was established, which had to, initially, complete its work by 30 September.

Sapa