The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has noted that the Electoral Commission (IEC) has urgently approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) to appeal the Electoral Court’s ruling. We predicted that this would happen.

The Electoral Court had ordered the IEC to include former President Jacob Zuma’s name on the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) list of candidates for Parliament, following the party’s successful appeal against the Commission’s decision to exclude him from the list.

For the first time in history, the IEC is at loggerheads with their own Electoral Court. This is a strange set of circumstances.

In addition, has the IEC thought of the possible ramifications of this decision, including using taxpayers’ moneys, to fight this case in the ConCourt? It seems as if the African National Congress’ factionalism, that led to the formation of the MKP, is impacting on government institutions?

The UDM had raised these issues at a recent National Party Liaison Committee (NPLC) meeting and the leadership duck and dived the question. The IEC has several court cases that it must contend with brought by disgruntled political parties and the UDM is interested to know how many there are.

Considering the MKP’s ConCourt court case as well as the myriad other court cases the IEC faces, what are the implications for the forthcoming elections and will it impact on the free and fairness thereof.

Issued by:
Ms Thandi Nontenja
UDM Member on the IEC’s National Party Liaison Committee