BLF registration as political party unlawful — IEC
The registration of Black First Land First (BLF) as a political party is “unlawful” and “invalid”, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) has found. The BLF is therefore no longer a registered political party which can stand in an election. It would have to change its stance on excluding white members if it were to stand a chance to be registered as a political party again. The Freedom Front Plus had lodged an appeal against the registration of BLF as a political party, on the grounds that the BLF excluded members on the basis of race. The BLF is led by Andile Mngxitama, an avid supporter of former president Jacob Zuma.
The registration of Black First Land First (BLF) as a political party is unlawful and invalid, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) has found.
The BLF is no longer a registered political party that can stand in an election and would have to change its stance on excluding white members if it were to stand a chance to be registered as a political party.
The Freedom Front Plus lodged an appeal against the registration of BLF as a political party on the grounds that the BLF excluded membership on the basis of race.
The BLF is led by Andile Mngxitama, an avid supporter of former president Jacob Zuma.
The BLF controversially uses the slogan “Land or death”, which the Equality Court found was hate speech.
The party failed to obtain a seat after contesting the 2019 general elections in May.
On Monday the IEC said it had defended the original decision to approve the BLF’s registration in 2016 as it said the BLF’s constitution did not expressly exclude white people from membership. “However, subsequent admissions by the BLF in its response to the appeal had served to clarify the position of the party namely, to exclude white people from membership,” the IEC said.
The admission settled “any ambiguity” in this regard, it said.
“It also resolves the dispute as to whether the BLF is a party with a constitution that entitles it to registration: it is not.”
The commission dismissed an appeal by the SA Council of Messianic Churches in Christ on the registration of the African Transformation Movement (ATM). The council objected to the registration on the grounds that the ATM had not submitted all the required documentation.
The commission found that the ATM, which is now represented in parliament, had met all the requirements for registration in terms of the Electoral Commission Act.
THE BLF IS LED BY ANDILE MNGXITAMA, AN AVID SUPPORTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT ZUMA