Today is D-day for submissions on possible postponement of 27 October municipal elections

11 August 2021

According to a directive issued by the Constitutional Court, today is the last day on which parties and other stakeholders can make submissions to the Court in response to the application brought by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to postpone the election date of 27 October.

The FF Plus is opposed to violating the Constitution by postponing the date of the local government elections to a later date on which the Constitution is very clear.

The party is of the opinion that the Constitutional Court does not have the power to authorise such a postponement and if it should indeed happen, it will set a dangerous precedent and pattern for the future. It means that in the future, the Constitutional Court may, in its own capacity, allow further violations of the Constitution.

Therefore, the FF Plus supports the institutions that are opposing the IEC's application to postpone the election date.

It is clear that the IEC's planning for the elections was not done properly and this move at the eleventh hour is causing various political parties serious problems and inconvenience, which is ultimately to the detriment of South Africa's democracy.

One example is that the weekend on which countrywide voter registrations should have been done never happened. The opportunity for voters to register must, however, be provided regardless of whether the elections will take place on the 27th of October or not.

Many people will be denied the opportunity to vote in the elections if they are not afforded a special opportunity to register.

Under ANC rule, municipal services in South Africa have collapsed. Voters have a constitutional right in terms of the provisions of the Constitution to be afforded the opportunity this year to oust poor performing councillors and elect new ones who will ensure that there is proper service delivery.

A Constitution forms the backbone of and upholds the constitutional democracy of a country like South Africa and it will be grossly violated and lose its power if it can easily by amended by a court, even if that court is the Constitutional Court.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 11 August 2021