BUILD One South Africa (Bosa) is worried that the Constitutional Court’s delay in ruling a crucial election case will give ANC more days in power.
The new political party said the ANC has just more than 170 days left in office which is welcome news for Mzansi people who suffer daily under the “corrupt and callous manner” in which they exercise power in government.
“It is therefore of great concern that an outstanding judgment of the Constitutional Court is standing as a barrier to a May 2024 election. While this predicament was self-created by Parliament and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) through a slow and unconstitutional legislative process and multiple extension applications at the Constitutional Court, the IEC cannot begin with preparing for an election until the Constitutional Court has ruled on the new electoral rules,” said Bosa spokesman Roger Solomons.
The case relates to the application that was brought by the Independent Candidates Association and Bosa challenging the Electoral Amendment Act that it was unconstitutional because it unfairly restricted the participation of independent candidates in the elections and their representation in the National Assembly, compared to political party candidates.
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As it stands, the Act states that independent candidates would require more votes to obtain a seat than political parties.
The matter was heard in August. Parliament and Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi opposed the application.
Independent candidates will be allowed to run for office in 2024 elections. Solomons said Bosa was against any extension of ANC’s time in office which expires as early as 21 May 2024. Solomons said there must be national and provincial elections as soon as possible in May 2024.
“Each day the ANC stays is another day of misery for citizens,” he said.
Solomons said the longer the delay, the higher the likelihood that the IEC will not be able hold an election in May 2024 and the longer South Africans will be subjected to ANC misrule.
He said elections in a time when most of the country is experiencing rain or harsh weather conditions could jeopardise efforts of a civil society and political parties who spent time in communities convincing South Africans to exercise their constitutional right to vote and would negatively impact an already decreasing voter turnout.
