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Independent MPs

PARLIAMENT has asked the Constitutional Court to grant it a six-month extension to allow it to finalise a law that would allow independent candidates to stand as MPs and MPLs in the national and provincial elections.

The request by Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces chairperson Amos Masondo to the highest court in the land comes before the deadline set by the Constitutional Court two years ago for the lawmakers to conclude the Electoral Laws by June.

The New Nation Movement had gone to the apex court to ask that independent candidates be allowed to stand as lawmakers in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

The law currently allows independent candidates to stand as councillors in municipal polls.

But only political parties can send candidates to the National Assembly and provinces.

The Constitutional Court ruled in the New Nation Movement application that Parliament has two years to fix the electoral laws. The deadline is June 10. | IOL