DA accepts ConCourt decision, remains suspicious of IEC
The Democratic Alliance has vowed to closely monitor the upcoming local government elections to ensure the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) delivers on its mandate to deliver free and fair elections.
The party briefed the media on Monday, shortly after the Constitutional Court dismissed its application to set aside the decision by the IEC to reopen the candidate registration list.
The DA argued that it believed the IEC made the decision unconstitutionally to assist the ANC fix its mistake of failing to meet the deadline on 23 August.
But the party remains suspicious of the IEC.
"When the ConCourt ruled that the proclamation of elections was null and void and that was the gap the IEC used to say there will have to be a reproclamation of the elections and they would be able to reset the deadlines and timetables," said federal chairperson, Helen Zille.
"The IEC said to the court it cannot change voter registration or candidate registration unless the election is postponed till 2022, but when the court said they cannot do that, suddenly the IEC can hold voter registration and incase those newly registered voters want to stand as candidates we better open the candidate registration as well, we find that sequence of events interesting and the court also found it interesting.
In its judgment, the apex court said the DA and others could challenge the IEC's decision after the elections if it's found that the election was not free and fair in certain municipalities.
"We are going to put the IEC on notice that we are going to be watching them like hawks, we simply remain of the view that they made this decision to favour the ANC. We note that the Constitutional court did not draw a conclusion on whether the IEC had an anterior motive based on the basis before the court," added party leader John Steenhuisen.
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