Lungani Zungu
The Constitutional Court has dismissed the DA’s application to halt the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) from re-registering candidates for political parties, once again giving the ruling party a lifeline.
The official opposition went to court after the IEC reopened the submission of candidates, following the ANC’s failure to submit its full candidate list before the deadline.
Many parties, including the DA and EFF, accused the ruling ANC of having influenced the IEC to make the decision.
The DA applied to the apex court, challenging the IEC on its 6 September decision to reopen the candidate nomination.
The IFP’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the IEC has bent over backwards to accommodate the ANC.
“Rules are rules. We can’t allow the ANC, by virtue of being the ruling party, to be favoured in this fashion,” said Hlengwa.
DA leader John Steenhuisen agreed.
“The ANC can’t be given leeway when it comes to its failure to nominate,” he said.
EFF leader Julius Malema said this can’t be allowed to happen in a democratic state.
“South Africans will suffer because of the ANC’s simple failures to register its candidates in time,” he said.
“But this is nothing unusual. The ANC has failed to run the country for 27 years. Why should we expect them to be an efficient organisation.”
ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte welcomed the ruling.
“Obviously, this is a relief for the ANC. Our job now is to make sure that we press on with our election campaign.”
Meanwhile, ANC members blocked Malema from campaigning in KwaDambuza in KZN, leading to physical clashes on Sunday.
