Parliament granted extension to finalise Electoral Bill
The Constitutional Court has granted a deadline extension for the finalisation of the Electoral Amendment Bill.
The extension was granted following an urgent application by Parliament on Tuesday and now gives the National Assembly until 31 January to make finalisation.
The extension, a second one granted by the apex court, is in relation to a 2020 ruling that, in its current form, the Electoral Act makes it impossible for candidates to stand for political office without being members of political parties.
Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says the extension won’t impact preparations for the 2024 elections.
"In its submission to the court Parliament argued that this short extension is designed to permit adequate public participation in respect of the amendments proposed by the National Council of Provinces after the Bill was passed by the National Assembly on October 20.
"Parliament submitted that there would be no prejudice to any party should the further extension be granted, as the Electoral Commission would still have sufficient time to prepare for the 2024 elections."
