Calls for IEC to maintain existing precedent regarding extensions

30 August 2021

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has taken note of the governing party’s request to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for an extension to submit their candidate lists for the upcoming Local Government Elections.

As the IFP, we would like to draw attention to the fact that 23 August was not submission day, it was the final day for the submission of candidate lists. On 4 August 2021, an IEC media statement advised, “Proclamation of the election date also opens the candidate nomination process and this window period will conclude on 23 August 2021 at 17h00.” The Proclamation of the election date took place on 3 August 2021. This means that political parties and independent candidates had almost three weeks to finalise and submit their lists.

As far as this matter is concerned, there is already existing precedent. As the IFP, we requested an extension in 2011, which was initially granted by the Electoral Court. However, the IEC appealed the matter in the Constitutional Court, which turned down the IFP’s application. In 2016, the NFP missed the registration fee deadline, and they too were denied participation.

In 2021, this precedent must be upheld re the governing party’s application for an extension. The integrity and consistency of process is key for elections to be deemed ‘free and fair’.
Everyone must be held to the same standard – there cannot be one set of rules for everyone, yet another for the governing party.

Issued by Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP National Spokesperson, 30 August 2021