The United States, the United Kingdom and Norway expressed "deep concern" on Saturday at the announcement of a two-year delay in elections in South Sudan, terming the extension of a transitional government a "failure.

International guarantors of South Sudan's peace process said the transitional government's postponement of elections due in December was disappointing and showed its failure to implement a 2018 peace plan.

The government in South Sudan has postponed elections scheduled for December for two years citing the need to complete processes such as a census, the drafting of a permanent constitution and registration of political parties.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue to support South Sudan following a decision to extend the transitional period agreed in a peace deal.