DA to lodge a court application against IEC

By Yamkela Xhaso
02 February

The Democratic Alliance will lodge a court application against the Independent Electoral Commission which turned down a request by former president FW de Klerk to read electoral acts in a way that would give South Africans abroad the right to vote.


De Klerk's Centre for Constitutional Rights says IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam’s response was that if there was ever doubt over the meaning of a prescription in electoral acts, the benefit went towards the voter.

The Democratic Alliance’s James Selfe said the constitution of this country guarantees all South Africans to vote including those who are abroad.

Selfe said they will be going to court to “ensure those people who are temporarily abroad, who are registered voters in South Africa have the right to vote”

“Currently the Electoral Act arbitrary makes unfair and unconstitutional distinctions, but to some South Africans who are temporarily abroad who are entitled to vote and other are not”

Slefe said the court should make a ruling in this regard.