BLF finally deregistered as political party after FF Plus took action
5 November 2019
The political party Black First Land First (BLF) has finally been deregistered as a political party. Yesterday, the Electoral Court of South Africa set aside the BLF's appeal against its deregistration in July this year.
In accordance with Section 16(1)(c) of the Electoral Commission Act (Act 51 of 1996), the IEC may not register a political party that excludes membership based on race, skin colour or ethnicity. The BLF's constitution, however, stipulates in Section 4 that only black people may become members of the party.
In its appeal, the BLF said, among other things, that the wording of its constitution which states that only black people may join the party was incorrectly interpreted and that people of other races can indeed also be seen as black.
The FF Plus argued that the BLF repeatedly made it abundantly clear through its leader, Andile Mngxitama, that white people may not become members of the BLF. It was declared thus under oath and was also reiterated in various media interviews.