One South Africa Movement leader Mmusi Maimane rejects Parliament’s claims that OSA accused the national legislature of being in contempt of court.
He says the litigants in the initial Constitutional Court application formally wrote to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula in October this year.
Maimane says they gave Parliament seven days to take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with the Constitutional Court judgment that was delivered in June last year.
The court directed Parliament to correct the defect in the Electoral Act within 24 months.
The New Nation Movement NPC and others who support Independent Candidates successfully challenged the constitutionality of the electoral legislation which does not make provision for Independent Candidates to contest the National and Provincial Elections.
In a statement, Maimane says they want progress because the Concourt found the electoral law to be unconstitutional – as it forces citizens to first join a political party to become provincial and national elected public representatives.
The court order for the Electoral Act to be amended paves way for Independent Candidates to be allowed to contest in the 2024 General Elections. Maimane says there are less than eight months left for Parliament to rectify the legislation.
He says OSA is concerned that the National Legislature may miss the Concourt deadline.
Mmusi Maimane on the performance of Independent Candidates:
