Court to rule on independents
The Constitutional Court is on Monday due to rule on the constitutionality of the Electoral Amendment Act regarding independent candidates who aim to contest the national and provincial elections in 2024 for the first time.
The apex court heard argument in the matter brought by the Independent Candidates Association and Mmusi Maimane’s grassroots movement, One Movement SA, in August. The highest court is expected to pronounce on requirements for independent candidates contesting next year’s elections. The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC), at the launch of the 2024 election campaign in Midrand in October, said it was waiting for the judgment.
“Given the particular complexities of the forthcoming election, there are going to be new rules, and we are going to have to manage that the best we can. As we anxiously await the judgment of the Constitutional Court, we want to thank that court for delivering the judgment in good time so that we are able to deliver a free and fair election,” IEC commissioner judge Dhayanithie Pillay said.
IEC chair Mosotho Moepya has said the judgment will clarify requirements. “An example of that is how many signatures will be required by an independent candidate in the provincial elections. The provision … has been challenged in court.”
The applicants contest the Electoral Amendment Act’s constitutionality on the grounds that it does not ensure a level playing field between political parties and independent
candidates in terms of number of signatures required and the number of seats in the National Assembly independents will be allowed to contest.
Business Day reported in August that One Movement SA’s main contention relates to the number of signatures an independent candidate must have to contest an election. It said the threshold should be set at 1,000 signatures. The act has a signature requirement as high as 14,000 in some cases. The IEC, parliament and the department of home affairs opposed the application.
On Monday, trade industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel will brief the media on the long-awaited draft white paper on electric vehicles. He will provide an update on the green hydrogen commercialisation strategy.
Deputy president Paul Mashatile is on Tuesday due to deliver an annual address to the National Council of Provinces. to be followed by a debate on “accelerating the provision of social services, safety and the advancement of economic reforms for economic recovery in the interest of the people”.
On Wednesday, the IEC will release findings of research studies of voters’ perceptions and intentions before the 2024 elections and the declining participation of youth voters.
On Wednesday, the National Assembly votes on a number of bills, including the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill and the Public Procurement Bill. The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces will rise for the DecemberJanuary recess on Wednesday and Friday respectively.