The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) says it is all systems go for the May 7 general elections. With only two weeks left before the polls, the IEC is still hard at work to leave no stone unturned.
The IEC chairperson, Pansy Tlakula on Wednesday received new support from some opposition parties.
The APC led other parties to her defence, calling other opposition parties under United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) opportunistic, ill-advised and bent on causing anarchy in the country.
Last week, some opposition parties filed an urgent application in the Electoral Court to force Tlakula to resign.
This follows a forensic investigation by Price WaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on the procurement of the IEC’s Riverside Office Park building in Centurion.
The report found the process was neither fair, transparent nor cost-effective.
On Wednesday, the African People’s Convention (APC), Pan Africanist Movement (PAM), Aljamaha and African Independent Congress distanced themselves from the court action.
On Wednesday, the African People’s Convention (APC), Pan Africanist Movement (PAM), Aljamaha and African Independent Congress distanced themselves from the court action.
They believe this may discredit the credibility of the IEC and election outcome.
The African People’s Convention leader, Themba Godi says, “Bantu Holomisa and his lieutenants are not speaking for everybody. These right-wing parties who shout a lot about the rule of law are actually flouting the laws, because they are just to ignore them in order to achieve certain narrow partisan interests.”
Meanwhile, Pan Africanist Movement (PAM) Clarence Mayekiso says, “He himself [EFF leader] Julius Malema is accused of owing SARS R16 million but because the process is still on, he is challenging the legality of this thing. He is also using conspiracy theories. But he is allowed to participate in the elections until this process is finalised.”
The African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Freedom Front are also against the resignation of Tlakula.
IEC says the future of Advocate Tlakula will be decided by the Electoral Court. IEC chairperson Terry Tselane says, “The decision that we take as a commission is that we will abide by whatever a decision that the court comes to. So the matter is before the electoral court.”
In the Free State, the IEC also assured voters about its readiness. More than 1.4 million voters have registered to cast their vote in the province.
IEC Free State Chris Mepha says, “Although this election like everybody else knows that it is going to be very challenging but where we are having control we are living no stone unturned and we have no room for failure at this point in time.”
Preparations are also in place for inmates in 28 prisons in the Free State.
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