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Maimane to join other parties opposing IEC’s application to postpone LGE

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The leader of One South Africa (OSA) Mmusi Maimane, says he’ll be joining other parties and organizations in opposition of the application by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to have the October local government election (LGE) postponed.

Maimane says the country needs to adequately prepare for the reality of elections during COVID. He was addressing the Cape Town Press Club on electoral reforms. Maimane says the mandate of the ANC and other political parties expires in October.

The Moseneke Commission of Enquiry, which has been adopted by the IEC, has proposed that the election be postponed until February next year.

INFOGRAPHIC: Moseneke’s report:

Maimane says it’s inevitable that elections will be held under COVID conditions.

“This is sacrosanct to our democracy. It’s vital that you don’t allow your Constitution to simply be amended by those who apply to the ConCourt. More than anything imagine if you had told the people of America please stick it up with President Trump, because we’ve got COVID. Imagine if you went to Malawi and said please let’s hold on for a while until there is no COVID. Imagine Zambia today go to the polls and you say to President Lungu, listen don’t worry just wait until the end of COVID.”

Urgent intervention

Meanwhile, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) filed an urgent intervention application to the Constitutional Court to oppose the IEC’s application to have the elections postponed.

The papers were filed Thursday afternoon.

Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has set down the 20 August to hear the IEC’s application.

Constitutional crisis

On Wednesday the Democratic Alliance (DA) said a constitutional crisis will be created if the Constitutional Court accedes to the IEC’s application for the deferment of the LGE.

The party said it will also approach the court to oppose the IEC’s application.

Federal Council chairperson, Helen Zille says the only way the constitution can be amended is through achieving a requisite majority in Parliament.

Zille says postponing the election will be a fatal mistake.

“If they were to accede to the IEC’s demands they will be in fact fundamentally violating their own role, which should be to defend the Constitution against all and it would create the impossible precedent of a small group of people being able to override the Constitution should they see fit to do so.”

In the video below Helen Zille speaks to SABC News:

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