The IEC says it will not respond to the MKP's demands to explain the glitches in the 2024 election results.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has refused to entertain the Umkhonto weSizwe Party’s demand to explain the glitches in the 2024 election results, saying that the matter is before the country's courts and is sub judice.
In its reaction to the announcement of the local government elections date of November 4, the MKP said it was concerned that the announcement was made against the backdrop of the deeply contested 2024 results.
The party questioned the IEC’s 'integrity of counducting another election while the party is still challenging the validity of the last election results'.
In a statement issued by the party it demanded that the IEC reveal who authorised the ‘optimisation’ of the results which led to the elections results board blackout for two hours during the 2024 elections.
However, the IEC’s national spokesperson Kate Bapela poured cold water on the demand, saying the matter is in court and the IEC would not respond to the demand.
“The matter is in court. The IEC will not discuss the matter that is in court,” said Bapela.
The MKP case is expected to be heard on June 18 in the Electoral Court.
In the statement, the MKP said the 2024 'downtime episode raises serious concerns about the integrity of the IEC, an institution constitutionally mandated to uphold accountability, transparency and fairness'. It further stated that reports of dumped ballot papers further erode public confidence in the electoral process.
“In light of these developments, the MK Party demands full accountability from the IEC. South Africans deserve clear answers on why a live system was tampered with, who authorised this so- called “optimisation,” and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent a recurrence,” read the statement.
The party concluded that 'without transparency and accountability, the credibility of the upcoming elections remains in serious doubt'.
Two weeks ago, party leader and founder Jacob Zuma said they were contemplating making a push for the postponement of the local government elections until the party’s disputed 2024 general election case has been finalised.
Addressing the party’s eThekwini consultative forum, Zuma spoke at length about the alleged rigging of the 2024 elections that his party was challenging, questioning the IEC’s rationale in preparing for another election while his party was still challenging the legitimacy of the previous elections.
Zuma asked why the party members were not demanding that before any new election, the electoral body must first deal with the party’s dispute.
“We were robbed in the previous elections. We might call for the postponement of the upcoming elections. You can’t organise another election while you have not resolved the previous one. For me, we must be talking with one voice, asking why you bring another election before solving our case first.
He further told the meeting that he had already met the party’s legal team and was preparing for the sitting of the case.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za