Nine new parties will be part of the group of 28 political organisations vying for seats in the Western Cape provincial legislature during the 2024 elections.
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The DA, ANC, EFF, Patriotic Alliance, ACDP, GOOD Party, Al Jama-ah, UDM, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, PAC, Cope, IFP, Build One South Africa, African Independent Congress, Land Party, and African Transformation Movement are parties that will be contesting the seats.
The newly formed parties due on the ballot include uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, Rise Mzansi, Alliance of Citizens for Change, Azanian Peaceful Revolution, Operation Dudula, People’s Movement for Change, Referendum Party, Sizwe Ummah Nation, and Arise South Africa.
The Western Cape’s regional seats in the National Assembly will be contested by 33 political parties and one independent candidate, Zackie Achmat.
A further 56 parties will compete for National Assembly compensatory seats.
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This list of parties was revealed after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) made the lists of political party and independent candidates available for inspection on Monday.
Members of the public have until Wednesday at 5pm to lodge an objection against the nomination of candidates.
The IEC stated that an objection could be raised if an independent candidate or nominating party failed to submit the signed prescribed acceptance of nomination or there was no signed prescribed undertaking that the candidate was bound by the electoral code of conduct.
According to sections 47 and 106 of the Constitution, every citizen who is eligible to vote for the National Assembly is also eligible to serve as a member.
However, those disqualified are those who are appointed by, or are in the service of, the state and receive remuneration for that appointment or service; permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces; or members of a provincial legislature or a municipal council.
Any unrehabilitated insolvents, anyone declared to be of unsound mind by a court and anyone who was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine.
No one may be regarded as having been sentenced until an appeal against the conviction or sentence has been determined or until the time for an appeal has expired.
A disqualification under this paragraph expires five years after the sentence is completed.
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The IEC stated that it would decide on the objections by 28 March and that objectors, registered parties, or nominated candidates may appeal the decision to the Electoral Court by 2 April.
The commission will publish the final list of candidates for the elections on 10 April.
The IEC’s Western Cape electoral officer, Michael Hendrickse, stated that the candidate nomination process, as outlined in the electoral legislation, was still underway, with the final list of contestants expected to be published on 10 April.
‘We would, once again, call on all contesting parties and independents to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct,’ said Hendrickse. ‘This will ensure parties and independents can campaign freely and in the absence of no-go areas, and without disruption of public meetings. We ask everyone to conduct themselves with mutual respect and in an environment of tolerance.’
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