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IEC says it was not intimidated by ANC over candidate dispute
ZA🏛️ PoliticsCenter8 hr. ago

IEC says it was not intimidated by ANC over candidate dispute

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa has stated that it was not intimidated by the African National Congress (ANC) during a dispute regarding the exclusion of 181 ANC candidates from the upcoming local government elections. Following a Constitutional Court ruling in favor of the ANC, the IEC extended the ruling to 32 other political parties it believed were in a similar situation. IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasized that the decision was made based on the commission's mandate to ensure free and fair elections and that the IEC would continue to operate independently without fear or favor. The IEC acknowledged seeking legal advice but ultimately proceeded with its interpretation of the law. The ANC Youth League criticized the IEC's actions, arguing that the commission should remain politically independent.

South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) has stated it does not fear the African National Congress (ANC) following a recent Constitutional Court ruling that favored the ruling party in its dispute over excluded election candidates. IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasized that the commission had never been intimidated into doing its work and reiterated that it would continue operating independently. At a press briefing on Friday, Moepya addressed concerns about potential backlash from the ANC over the dispute involving 181 affected councillor candidates. He said the IEC had accepted the Constitutional Court's judgment and congratulated the ANC on its victory. The commission's focus now is to return to its duties and fulfill its obligations. Moepya noted that the ANC, through its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, had expressed respect for the IEC, and the commission reciprocated that respect. He stated, "We have never been intimidated by the ANC. When they raised this matter with us, we were clear that there had never been a reason to fight outside the law." The Constitutional Court overturned an earlier Electoral Court decision that had excluded the 181 ANC candidates from contesting the elections in six municipalities. The court granted the ANC's appeal and directed the IEC to include the affected candidates on ballot papers and in other relevant election processes. The dispute originated after the ANC failed to complete the final submission process on the IEC's online candidate nomination system before the deadline. The party argued that its candidates' details had been uploaded to the system. The affected municipalities include Sundays River Valley, Walter Sisulu, Ngquza Hill, Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, uMshwathi in KwaZulu-Natal, and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State. In addition to the ANC, Moepya announced that 32 other political parties facing similar issues would also be allowed to contest the elections. These parties had intended to participate in 121 municipalities across the country, covering all three ballot types: metropolitan, local, and district. The IEC explained that its decision was consistent with the constitutional imperative of free and fair elections and the principle of equal treatment. It stated that excluding parties in a similar situation to the ANC would be irrational and offensive to the principle of parity of treatment. Moepya clarified that while the Constitutional Court dealt specifically with the ANC's case, the IEC had to consider the implications for other parties in similar circumstances. He mentioned that excluding such parties could raise questions about the fairness of the election administration. The IEC had sought legal advice on the matter and proceeded based on its interpretation of its mandate. Moepya emphasized that the commission had accepted the Constitutional Court's decision and remained focused on its responsibilities ahead of the elections. The IEC has informed the 32 political parties that they will be contacted to confirm their continued participation in the November 4 elections. This development will not disrupt the ongoing preparations for the elections. Separately, the ANC has opened criminal cases related to the destruction of election posters in KwaZulu-Natal, calling on police to arrest those responsible and urging the IEC to investigate claims of campaign material destruction. Fikile Mbalula, the ANC's secretary-general, showed visible emotion during a briefing following the Constitutional Court's ruling in favor of the party. He was taken for medical attention after the announcement.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

5 reports

IOL (Independent Online) logoIOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenterFactual 95Objective 923 days ago
IEC says it was not intimidated by ANC over candidate dispute

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa has stated that it was not intimidated by the African National Congress (ANC) during a dispute regarding the exclusion of 181 ANC candidates from the upcoming local government elections. Following a Constitutional Court ruling in favor of the ANC, the IEC extended the ruling to 32 other political parties it believed were in a similar situation. IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasized that the decision was made based on the commission's mandate to ensure free and fair elections and that the IEC would continue to operate independently without fear or favor. The IEC acknowledged seeking legal advice but ultimately proceeded with its interpretation of the law. The ANC Youth League criticized the IEC's actions, arguing that the commission should remain politically independent.

Bias read (Center): The article presents both the IEC's stance and the ANC's criticism without overtly favoring one side. It includes direct quotes from both parties involved and explains the legal reasoning behind the IEC's decision. The language remains neutral, focusing on the procedural aspects of the electoral law

Why factuality (95): This article accurately reflects the IEC's position on not being intimidated by the ANC and its extension of the court ruling to 32 other parties. It matches the cross-source consensus found in articles 0, 2, and 4, confirming the court's decision and the IEC's actions.

Why objectivity (92): The article remains objective, focusing on the IEC's statements and legal reasoning without taking sides. It presents the situation factually and avoids any biased language.

Mail & Guardian logoMail & GuardianIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 903 days ago
We don’t fear the ANC, says IEC chair

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa has stated it does not fear the African National Congress (ANC) despite a recent Constitutional Court ruling that favored the ANC in a legal dispute. The IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, emphasized that the commission has never been intimidated into doing its work and respects the ANC's right to challenge decisions within the legal framework. The court overturned an earlier decision that had excluded 181 ANC councillor candidates from participating in municipal elections in several regions. This followed the ANC's failure to submit final candidate lists via the IEC's online system before the deadline. In addition to the ANC, 32 other political parties facing similar issues will also be allowed to contest elections, provided they meet certain criteria.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the positions of both the IEC and the ANC without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya and provides background on the legal dispute, ensuring balanced representation of the situation.

Why factuality (95): The article accurately reports the IEC chairperson's statements regarding the Constitutional Court ruling in favor of the ANC and the IEC's stance on not fearing intimidation. It aligns closely with the cross-source consensus, particularly with articles 1, 2, and 4, which confirm the court's decisio

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting facts without overt bias or emotional language. It quotes directly from the IEC chairperson and provides context about the court ruling and the IEC's responsibilities.

News24 logoNews24IndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 903 days ago
UPDATE | IEC says ConCourt’s ruling on missing ANC candidates will apply to all parties

South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) has decided to include 32 political parties on the ballot for the upcoming local government elections, following a Constitutional Court ruling regarding the African National Congress (ANC). The IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, stated this decision was made to ensure fairness and uphold the principle of equal treatment, as these parties had already submitted their applications and paid required deposits. This applies to all parties facing similar issues, not just the ANC. The IEC emphasized that this decision does not disrupt preparations for the 4 November elections. The court had previously ordered the IEC to allow the ANC to participate in six municipalities where they missed submitting their candidate lists as final.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the IEC's decision neutrally, citing legal rulings and the commission's reasoning based on principles of fairness and equal treatment. There is no evident bias toward any political side; the focus is on procedural compliance and legal interpretation.

Why factuality (95): The article accurately describes the IEC's decision to include 32 political parties due to the Constitutional Court ruling. This aligns with the cross-source consensus in articles 0, 1, and 4, which all mention the court's decision and the IEC's subsequent actions.

Why objectivity (90): The article is neutral in tone, reporting the IEC's statement and the rationale behind including other parties. It avoids taking a stance on the issue and focuses on the procedural aspects of the decision.

IOL (Independent Online) logoIOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 854 days ago
Mbalula collapses after ConCourt victory over 181 ANC candidates

The Constitutional Court ruled that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) must include 181 African National Congress (ANC) candidates on the ballot for the upcoming November 4 local government elections. This decision came after legal challenges by the ANC regarding the disqualification of these candidates. During a press briefing, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula showed visible distress and had to be taken for medical assistance, indicating the high stakes and emotional impact of the court's ruling.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a judicial decision related to electoral inclusion and mentions the emotional reaction of an ANC official but does not exhibit clear bias toward either side. It presents the event factually without overtly favoring the ANC or opposing parties.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (85): The article presents the information neutrally but includes some emotionally charged language such as 'became emotional' and 'taken for medical attention,' which may imply a certain level of dramatic emphasis. However, it does not overtly favor any political side or present biased interpretations.

IOL (Independent Online) logoIOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenter8 hr. ago
ANC opens criminal cases over election poster destruction in KZN

The African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party, has requested that police take action against individuals involved in the destruction of election posters in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The ANC has also asked the Electoral Commission to look into allegations of campaign material being destroyed ahead of the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 4. This comes amid concerns about potential disruptions to the electoral process and the integrity of the campaign period.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the ANC's formal request to law enforcement and the Electoral Commission without overtly favoring any side. It reports the party's actions neutrally, without using biased language or selectively omitting context. There is no indication of editorializing or one-sided sourcing.

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