The IFP has welcomed the ruling, handed down by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng earlier this morning, in which the Constitutional Court ruled that the 2016 municipal elections can go ahead as planned.
The IFP supports this judgement. We believe the decision to allow the 3 August polls to go ahead as planned, was a sound decision, and we believe that the judgment has given absolute clarity on the way forward.
However, the Court did rule that the IEC’s inability to update the voters’ roll and confirm the addresses of voters, were unlawful. It also indicated that the Independent Electoral Commission will only be granted 18 months to fix any errors that may exist within its voters’ roll.
The IFP can only hope that the IEC will be able to adhere to the timeframes the Court has set down to cure the current defects.
That aside, one must remember that the situation we find ourselves in arose due to the ANC’s unlawful campaign practises of bussing in voters to vote in areas, where they do reside. We hope that this ruling will not give the ruling party the green light to again act in this manner, which will render the upcoming elections neither free nor fair.
The IFP furthermore appeals to the IEC to be extremely vigilant in this regard, to ensure that the upcoming local government elections is not comprised by the ANC abusing the ConCourt ruling, by engaging in their usual vote rigging shenanigans once more
Contact:
Mr Albert Mncwango, MP
083 448 4896.
