The DA strongly opposes the ANC’s application to the Electoral Court seeking to compel the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to reopen its candidate list system.
The ANC has indicated that it experienced numerous technical problems with the IEC’s registration system which prevented the party from registering some of their candidates in 30 municipalities. This reasoning holds no water, considering that the DA and many other political parties successfully submitted their full candidate lists without reporting any serious technical problems. Political parties knew since 6 July 2021 that the final date for submission would be 23 August 2021.
The IEC cannot bend to the will of the ANC and must therefore oppose this frivolous application.
Indeed, for the sake of consistency, the IEC should vigorously oppose the ANC’s application — on the basis of past precedent. It is important to recall that the IEC previously barred candidates from the NFP from contesting the 2016 Local Government Elections after the party failed to pay its registration fees on time.
The IFP case of 2011, when it did not submit candidates in time for Umzumbe, was taken right up to the Constitutional Court where the IEC’s position was confirmed: non-compliance with the election timetable cannot be condoned in order to ensure free and fair elections.
This principle applies to the ANC just as it applies to every other party, and it would be a very serious violation of this principle if the IEC appears to be bending the rules to suit the ANC.