ANC withdraws application to Electoral Court to have candidate registration system reopened

The ANC has withdrawn its application to the Electoral Court requesting that the candidate registration system be reopened so that the party can submit their lists.

Earlier, in an affidavit filed by the party’s Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte, she had stated that the party was not able to register candidates in 94 municipalities as they had experienced technical difficulties when submitting the candidate lists.

Various political parties were opposed to the ANC’s application, while some like the EFF and DA, had threatened legal action over the matter.

Earlier, the party had filed its application to the Electoral Court to request that the candidate registration system be reopened so that the party can submit its lists.

The party had said it had no other option but to approach the Electoral Court, as the IEC had rejected its request to extend the election timetable.

The United Democratic Movement has supported the ANC’s application as it experienced the same difficulties, whilst political parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA)  have threatened to oppose this application.

Discussion on possible reopening of candidate list process:

Earlier, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal revealed some of the wards that did not make the Independent Electoral Commission’s deadline to register candidates for the upcoming local government elections.

At least seen municipalities in KZN affected 

Most of the affected municipalities are in the Zululand District.

Addressing the media in Durban, Provincial Secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli said they were backing calls from the party’s national office, for the IEC to reopen the candidates’ registration process, even for a day.

“In general, Gizenga, Aqhina Mpanza region, we also do not have ward candidates registered in KwaDukuza Wards 2, 10, 20, 22, and 24. In iNdwedwe Local Municipality within the same region, we were not able to have ward candidates registered in the following wards, 11, 10, 13, and 15.”