DA to take legal action against IEC for decision to reopen candidate registration process

The Democratic Alliance says it will take legal action against the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s decision to reopen the candidate registration process for political parties ahead of the Local Government Elections.

The IEC on Monday briefed the media in Johannesburg on candidate nominations after the Constitutional Court dismissed its application to have the municipal elections postponed until next year.

Last month, the ANC missed the deadline to register some of its candidates. The party then approached the Electoral Court asking for an extension of the deadline but later withdrew that application.

DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille says they do not believe the elections are free and fair.

“The latest developments actually underscore that my suspicions and my speculations were right from the start. They were entirely correct. The ANC withdrew it’s appeal to the Electoral Court because they had another plan. We certainly don’t believe that the elections are free and fair if there’s one rule for every other party but the ANC and if the IEC or anybody else bends the rules to fit the ANC’s circumstances, that is not our definition of free and fair.”

DA, PAC react to IEC announcement on Local Government Elections timetable:

Local Government Elections registration weekend scheduled for September 18 and 19: IEC

The IEC says a registration weekend for the Local Government Elections is scheduled for September 18 and 19.

Eligible citizens will be able to register or update their details ahead of the Local Government Elections.

Voting stations will open from 8am until 5pm to allow for registration.

The date of the election will then be announced on September 20. The IEC says it has communicated its preference of November 1 to government.

Video: The Independent Electoral Commission announces the LGE 2021 electoral programme

Political parties will be able to register candidates

The IEC says political parties will be able to register candidates for Local Government Elections. The Commission has amended a timetable for which those who failed to register will be able to do so.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled against an application by the IEC to have the elections postponed from October 27 to February 2022. The Court ruled that the polls must go ahead between October 27 and November 1.

The candidate nomination process closed on August 23, but a number of parties including the African National Congress (ANC) and United Democratic Movement (UDM) wanted it reopened, citing inadequate time to hold their candidate selection processes due to COVID-19 restrictions as well as technical problems encountered with the IEC system.

IEC Chairperson Glen Mashinini says that the Electoral Commission is determined to comply with the decisions of the Constitutional Court delivered last week. The apex court in dismissing the body’s bid for a deferment of elections to February next year, said the IEC must, if possible, allow voters a dedicated weekend to register or change their details.