Clock ticking for political parties to finalise IEC lists
The clock is ticking for political parties to submit a list of their preferred candidates to the Independent Electoral Commission for the May elections.
The commission gave parties until the end of the day to file their nomination requirements.
The Inkatha Freedom Party's Velenkosini Hlabisa says there have been no issues from their side.
"We finalised all our lists on Wednesday, and we have signed off all papers."
The National Freedom Party's Canaan Mdletshe explained their financial challenges.
"We are facing a lot of challenges as a political party, particularly when it comes to paying the deposit. As a party, we want to contest the national and provincial elections, and there we must pay at least R75 000 as a deposit. It is a lot of money for a party like ourselves, who does not get any funds or financial assistance from donors or good Samaritans."
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Meanwhile, the newly formed Labour Party of SA, linked to labour union AMCU, is taking the electoral commission to court in an attempt to extend the deadline.
The party's Krister Janse van Rensburg says the process of uploading over 60,000 signatures is unfair.
"If one looks at international best practice, the current governing party and also other parties are putting up barriers to democracy. We are saying if the IEC fails to change these deadlines, the elections will not be free and fair."
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