19 March 2009
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced today that when the
period of objections closed on Wednesday, 18 March 2009, objections were
received against 338 candidates out of a total of 9 425. The objections follow
the widespread publication of the lists of candidates in the media.
Many people used the publication to familiarise themselves with candidates
on the various party lists as well as to raise objections against any of these
candidates in terms of section 30 of the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act 73 of 1998),
on the following grounds:
1. that the candidate is not qualified to stand in the election in terms of
sections 47 and 106 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
2. that the candidate had no signed acceptance of nomination as prescribed,
and
3. that the candidate had not signed the prescribed undertaking to be bound by
the code of conduct.
In terms of the said section of the electoral Act, any person, including the
chief electoral officer, may lodge an objection with the commission against any
nominated candidate on the grounds mentioned above. In this regard, there were
297 objections that were lodged by the chief electoral officer, in the
following categories:
Objection type
Candidate undertaking to be bound by the code and acceptance of nomination not
submitted
Number of candidates
176
Objection type
Deceased
Number of candidates
Two
Objection type
ID Not on National Population Register
Number of candidates
Six
Objection type
Non-South African Citizen
Number of candidates
Three
Objection type
Not on Votersâ Roll
Number of candidates
110
Total: 297
The 297 candidates objected are spread amongst 28 political parties as per
the attached Annexure A.
In addition to the objections lodged by the chief electoral officer, there
were 41 objections which were received from individual persons, candidates
themselves and / or political parties. The broad categories are as follows:
Objection type
Withdrawal or objection by candidate against him /herself
Number of candidates
11
Objection type
Withdrawal of candidates by a party
Number of candidates
3
Objection type
Objection against a candidate(s)
Number of candidates
21
Objection type
Objections regarding the composition or order of list(s)
Number of candidates
6
Total: 41
These figures represent the number of submissions received and may include
duplicates where the same objector submitted the same objection more than
once.
âIt is important to note that as far as objections are concerned, the law
envisages separation of functions between the chief electoral officer and the
five members of the commission (Commissioners). The objections will be decided
upon by the Commissioners and in deciding these objections, they maintain their
independence and may uphold or even reject any objection, including one or more
of those lodged by the chief electoral officerâ, said Adv Pansy Tlakula.
In terms of the Election Timetable, the process will unfold as follows:
1. The objections received by the commission must be considered and decided
by 23 March 2009. Every objector will be informed in writing, about such
decisions.
2. Appeals to the decisions of the Commissioners may be lodged with the
electoral court by 26 March 2009. The electoral court serves as a court of
final instance and its decisions will be made known by 31 March 2009.
3. The electoral commission will then compile a final list of candidates on or
before 3 April 2009, and on 7 April 2009 candidates will be issued with their
certificates.
For more information, please visit the IEC website on
www.elections.org.za
For media enquiries please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
19 March 2009
