{"id":966220,"date":"2024-03-18T06:59:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T06:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/dm-simulator-v2\/?p=966220"},"modified":"2024-03-18T06:59:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T06:59:15","slug":"anc-seeks-declaratory-order-to-invalidate-registration-of-mk-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elections.sabc.co.za\/elections2024\/anc-seeks-declaratory-order-to-invalidate-registration-of-mk-party\/","title":{"rendered":"ANC seeks declaratory order to invalidate registration of MK Party"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The African National Congress (ANC) will haul the Electoral Commission (IEC) to the Electoral Court tomorrow over the registration of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, contending that it was unlawful for the MK party to be registered on a \u201csupplemented\u201d application.<\/p>\n

If successful in reviewing the registration, the newly-formed political party which is endorsed by former ANC President Jacob Zuma<\/a>\u00a0will not appear on the 2024 ballot.<\/p>\n

The governing party will take the registration of the newly-formed political party to the doorstep of the Electoral Court, aiming to convince the specialist bench that the Commission\u2019s Deputy Chief Electoral Officer erred and failed to comply with the law, when he considered a \u201csupplemented\u201d application by the MK party and thereafter, registered it as a political party on September 7, 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe existence of a growing practice by the Electoral Commission to permit registration applications to be supplemented is an urgent matter that requires this Court\u2019s intervention. If this Court does not urgently intervene, the Electoral Commission\u2019s unlawful conduct will continue, and its decision-making will be at risk of becoming arbitrary,\u201d the ANC submits in its Heads of Arguments.<\/p>\n

The MK party, which continues to dominate headlines, is expected to contest the 2024 general elections amid a changing political climate, which has seen this new party gain ground in what is expected to be a watershed moment as the country marks thirty years of democracy.<\/p>\n

The ANC, through its review application, risks the party\u2019s ambitions of appearing on the 2024 ballot, if successful.<\/p>\n

The MK party, however, submits in papers that its registration is lawful. It argues that the ANC\u2019s attempt to label the IEC\u2019s August 2023 letter to assist the party to register as a \u201crejection\u201d, which compelled the MK party to submit a fresh application, is an erroneous interpretation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is submitted that the letter was simply an effort by the Commission to assist the parties to register. It is this broad understanding of the letter that is consistent with the right to form a political party. The ANC\u2019s interpretation seeks to interpret the statute and letter in a manner that seeks to limit this fundamental right. To do so would breach section 39(2) of the Constitution,\u201d the MK submitted in papers.<\/p>\n

As the court battle draws closer, party members have issued subtle threats if they were barred from contesting the 2024 general elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemove MK from the ballot, remove Zuma from the ballot (and) there won\u2019t be elections in this country, we are saying that in confidence because we have numbers on our side and we are fearless, for these elections to be free and fair, to have uMkhonto we Sizwe and Zuma as our choice, we are prepared to lay down our lives,\u201d MK Youth Interim Leader, Bonginkosi Khanyile charged during a media briefing in Johannesburg last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the IEC has filed what it terms \u201ca comprehensive and candid account of the facts\u201d before the court, submitting that the ANC\u2019s review application suffers from several defects before the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe matter between MK, the ANC, regarding the registration of the party, we are in the hands of the court. We have said all that we needed to say in terms of our filing in the court,\u201d IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said.<\/p>\n

Elections will be held on May 29, 2024.<\/p>\n

VIDEO: Youth wing bemoans exclusion from elections list:<\/strong>
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