IEC says it respects ConCourt decision in ANC candidate list matter

The Electoral Commission says it respects the Constitutional Court’s decision in the ANC matter. The party challenged an Electoral Court ruling in favour of the IEC that excluded its 181 candidates from contesting elections in six municipalities.

The affected candidates will now have to be included on the ballot papers for the November 4th elections.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says, “We will do everything within our power to ensure that both the letter and spirit of the order as issued is implemented. We don’t have a full reasoned judgment before us. But preliminarily, it appears that the court would have taken issue with the fact that the click as final requirement was given more pre-eminence than the substantive constitutional rights. But I think the more responsible way to deal with this is first to get the reasons whenever they come, so that a proper legal analysis can be given.”

The dispute stems from the ANC’s failure to click the “Submit as Final” button on the IEC’s candidate nomination system before the 28 August deadline.

Justice Steven Mathopo delivered the ruling.

“The court has by majority concluded that the appeal must be upheld.”

ConCourt rules in favour of ANC in case against IEC: