Lobby groups push legal bid for independents in May 8 polls

Lobby groups could derail the upcoming elections with a Constitutional Court bid to have SA’s electoral laws revised before the May 8 polls.  The groups are arguing for the inclusion of independent candidates in the elections, and the case is expected to be argued in the apex court on May 2.

Last week, the High Court in Cape Town dismissed an application by lobby group New Nation Movement and others, in which they sought to compel parliament to fix the “unconstitutionality” of the Electoral Act. The applicants argued that section 57A and schedule 1A of the Act is unconstitutional and invalid in that it does not provide for the “constitutionally enshrined right of individuals to contest elections as independent candidates”. Furthermore, they argued that failure of the Act to regulate the position of individuals, who stand for election to the National Assembly or the provincial legislatures other than through political party lists, is unconstitutional and invalid. Judge ...