By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ANC says it would prefer that local government elections be held in April 2022 as this will give political parties sufficient time to campaign.
The party’s deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte, says the ANC will be joining the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) in its court application to the Constitutional Court to defer the municipal polls to no later than the end of February 2022.
The IEC wants the polls to be changed from October to February next year. There are mixed views in the political sector over whether it would be safe to hold elections this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duarte was speaking during a virtual media briefing on Thursday morning.
“We are planning right now as if the elections are on the 27th October. It is very tight. Our major concern is that the election must be free and fair and that political parties must have the ability to properly explain their manifestos to the electorate and present their candidates in a well-organized manner,” said Duarte.
Duarte said the ANC is an interested party in the action based on its belief that political parties must have adequate time to campaign and properly select their councillor candidates.
“80% of our branches have elected their candidates but have not concluded their community meetings where the candidates are presented and where the communities can participate in the selection in the election of an ANC person who can represent them as a candidate in the Local Government Election, said Duarte.
Meanwhile Duarte said the ANC was concerned about information regarding a potential re-emergence of violent unrest.
She said the party was aware that some ANC members were allegedly part of the failed insurrection. She added that they will face criminal charges.
On Wednesday, supporters of imprisoned former president Jacob Zuma – led by the likes of suspended Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association member Carl Niehaus – threatened to protest at Zuma’s next court appearance on 10 August.
“All the SMSes received have been made available to law enforcement officials. All we are aware of are the cell numbers we have, not names, and we are in the process of developing charges (against ANC members implicated),” Duarte said.