Election: The ball is now in the IEC's court

Minister Dlamini-Zuma’s proclamation of the election date of 27 October now firmly places the ball in the IEC’s court.

We understand the Minister’s intention: she hopes that the proclamation will give the IEC legal grounds to approach the Constitutional Court to postpone the election.

But the Constitutional Court is not a rubber stamp, and there is still the possibility that the election might in fact proceed on 27 October.

The DA maintains that this is what should in fact happen. Not only because it is bad for the constitution to tinker with election timelines, but also because communities should be given the chance to vote for change.

Focus now turns to the IEC, which is tasked by the constitution to run regular, free and fair elections.

The IEC adoption of the Moseneke Report in the past days is indicative of their intention to seek a postponement of the election, but South African voters ought to stand against this.

The DA, and voters across the country, are ready to go to the polls on 27 October 2021.

Issued by Cilliers Brink, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, 3 August 2021