Western Cape govt to oppose application to postpone polls
The Western Cape government will oppose the Constitutional Court application by the Independent Electoral Commission to postpone the local government elections.
The polls are scheduled to be held on October 27.
But a report by former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke recommended the elections be postponed to February 2022 due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the postponement would set a bad precedent.
“As a provincial government we will oppose the postponement of the election because it risks setting a dangerous precedent whereby suffrage, and related rights, can be deferred and without following the correct constitutional process.
“As per the Constitution, the matter must be brought before Parliament and not the judiciary. We must ensure that our elections continue ahead as planned as this is in the best interest of our democracy.”
The application will be heard by the Constitutional Court on Friday.
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