Statement

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the Constitutional Court ruling on the matter seeeking political parties and independent candidates to amass only 1000 signatures instead of 15 % of the number of votes to run for the National Assembly. In a progressive judgment that also avoids a possible delay of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, the landmark ruling paves the way for independent candidates and political parties to compete in the forthcoming elections.

The ANC expresses its gratitude that this matter has been ruled in this manner. The ruling will allow the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to avoid any uncertainty in discharging its constitutional mandate of ensuring free and fair elections.

The ANC also welcomes the constitutional court’s unanimous judgment which dismissed the Independent Candidates’ Association South Africa’s challenge of the 200/200 split of National Assembly seats. The ANC agrees with the judgement that the 200/200 split passed the reasonableness test because it was grounded in proportional representation and would have little risk of “overhang”.

We are pleased that the Independent Candidates’ Association South Africa’s application was unanimously dismissed vindicating Parliament which opposed the matter.

The ANC will now focus on its election campaign encouraging South Africans to exercise their right to register to vote and on the ground mobilisation of our structures.