IEC to start assessing political party submissions

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The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says they are starting with the process to assess political party submissions ahead of the May 29 elections.

The deadline for political parties to submit their candidate lists and meet other requirements was yesterday at 5pm.

IEC Deputy CEO Masego Shiburi says they will now exercise a rigorous process before advising all parties about their status.

He says those who are aggrieved will have an opportunity to approach the Electoral Court.

“We must still inform parties who may have nominated a candidate and that candidate also appears on the list of another party or has stood as an independent to give them an opportunity to either amend their list to remove that candidate or to confirm that candidate.”

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Only after that will the commission publish the names of candidates submitted by parties for inspection from 26 to 27 March.”

Meanwhile, Sheburi has denied allegations that there are parties who have written to the commission and have not received responses.

He says all parties who have written to the commission have received responses.

Sheburi says submissions of candidate lists without a deposit are automatically disqualified.

“The party that has paid a deposit but has not submitted a list of candidates, unfortunately, that also is fatal, it can’t be cured, that party won’t be able to contest. Or a party that is unrepresented and has not submitted the requisite number of signatures to contest, that party will unfortunately also not have an opportunity to cure that defect, it is fatal and that party won’t appear on the ballot papers.”