File
Some political parties have welcomed the decision by the Constitutional Court to dismiss an application by the Electoral Commission of South Africa to postpone the local government elections.
In terms of the Court ruling, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs must, within three days of the order determine whether it is practically possible to hold a voter-registration weekend.
The Constitutional Court said this with “a view to registering new voters and changing registered voters particulars on the voters roll in time for local government elections to be held on any day in the period between Wednesday, 27 October and Monday, 1 November.”
“The Commission must notify the Minister of and, and publicly announce its determination as soon as it is made.”
The Constitutional Court also set aside the declaration of the 27 October by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The IEC application followed an inquiry by retired Deputy Chief Justice and his recommendations to postpone the elections on the basis that it would not be free and fair due to the impact of the Covid19 campaign.
The governing ANC and the EFF called for the postponement citing those reasons, among others.
Welcoming the Constitutional Court ruling, DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party was ready for the polls, having already announced its candidates.
He said the world had to adjust to a ‘new normal’ brought on the Covid19 pandemic, and political parties need to adapt too.
Freedom Front Plus leader, Dr Pieter Groenewald, said it was a pity that “we ended in this situation,” saying his party was also ready to contest the elections.
