Cape Town – The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is opposing an application from the Labour Party of South Africa to postpone the upcoming elections.
The Labour Party cited technical issues with the IEC’s online portal as the reason for missing the candidate list submission deadline.
But, according to EWN, the IEC argued that reopening the submission window and postponing the elections would be costly, estimated at over half a billion rand.
The IEC asserted that the online portal functioned properly and that other parties in similar circumstances were able to meet the submission requirements.
Overall, the IEC largely attributed the issue to parties for procrastinating and submitting their documents at the last minute.
Meanwhile, the IEC confirmed on Tuesday that it had received the letter from uKhonto weSizwe (MK) founder, Jabulani Khumalo, requesting the removal of Jacob Zuma.
Khumalo wrote a letter to the Commission and requested that Zuma be removed as the face of the MK Party, as well as for his removal as the president of the MK.
“I write to you in my capacity as the president of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK). This is to request the immediate removal of Mr Zuma’s name as the face of MK and president of MK,” Khumalo said.
In response, the IEC confirmed that it received the letter from Khumalo on behalf of the MK Party.
[MEDIA STATEMENT]
Letter regarding the removal of Mr Jacob Zuma from the list of members of Parliament of MK Party
The Electoral Commission confirms that it has received communication from Mr Jabulani Khumalo on behalf of the MK Party. The letter has also been circulated… pic.twitter.com/SwlAMTFgLH
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 7, 2024
“The letter has also been circulated extensively on social media platforms. In that letter, Mr Khumalo demands that the Electoral Commission should remove Mr Zuma as the ‘face of MKP and as the president of the MKP.
“The commission reiterates its stance that it does not involve itself in internal affairs of political parties. Additionally, the commission only acts on instruction of the registered leader of the party. In the present case, Mr Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of MK Party. This has been so since 10 April 2024,” the IEC said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
