ANC STATEMENT ON DA'S CONTEMPT OF COURT

7 May 2014

The African National Congress is shocked and dismayed by the defiant and intransigent stance adopted by the DA towards the judgment of the Electoral Court. This is yet another example of the DA practicing selective respect for institutions - agreeing only with those whose decisions favour it.

The DA has always claimed to respect the rule of law, the sanctity and the independence of the judiciary, yet the position it has taken with regards to the judgment on the SMS is dismissive and disrespectful.

It has labeled the judgment of the full quorum of the Electoral Court consisting of the Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, two other eminent High Court Judges and two respected advocates as "bizarre".

Despite the express order of the court the DA continues to publish false accusations on its website.

As at the time of this press release, the DA has failed to carry out an explicit order of the court to retract its earlier SMS. Instead, the DA is trying to subvert the impact of the judgment for party political gain.

The threat to bring the matter before the Constitutional Court is misconceived. At this hour, it remains in contempt of the order of the court that it so vociferously pretends to defend.
It is considered view of the ANC that the threat to approach the Constitutional Court is only a delaying tactic and thinly veiled defiance.

What is truly bizarre is that the DA is only now objecting to the constitutionality of section of 89 of the Electoral Act. It had ample opportunity to do so in the High Court and on appeal at the Electoral Court and it did not.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, May 7 2014

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