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News24 | Electoral Court rules out 5 political parties from contesting general elections

The court ruled Operation Dudula, Arise South Africa, Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, and Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation did not comply with the requirements for candidate nomination.

The court ruled Operation Dudula, Arise South Africa, Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, and Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation did not comply with the requirements for candidate nomination.

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  • The IEC has welcomed the Electoral Court’s ruling to reject the appeals of five political parties contesting their exclusion from the upcoming elections.
  • The parties include Operation Dudula, the Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, Arise South Africa, and the Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation.
  • Find everything you need to know about the 2024 general elections on News24’s Elections Hub.

The Electoral Court has dismissed five cases brought by political parties who appealed their exclusion from contesting the elections.

The court ruled Operation Dudula, Arise South Africa, Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, and Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation did not comply with the requirements for candidate nomination.

“The electoral commission welcomes the orders of the Electoral Court to dismiss five cases against the commission. 

“In a consolidated decision on the five applications, the court made an identical order, dismissing all of them.

“The court applications related to non-compliance with the requirements for candidate nomination,” the IEC said in a statement on Friday. 

The court added it would provide reasons for its ruling at a later stage. 

READ | ConCourt bid on Zuma election participation is about legal certainty – IEC

The IEC said it would now focus its attention on the mammoth task of printing ballots.

“The electoral commission appreciates the hard work of the Electoral Court for bringing these matters to finality.

“These applications had immense implications for the production of the ballot papers for the forthcoming elections,” it added.

The ruling comes after the Electoral Court ruled in uMkhonto weSizwe Party leader Jacob Zuma’s favour last week. 

Zuma took the IEC to court to appeal its decision to bar him from contesting a seat in Parliament. 

Last week, the IEC asked the Constitutional Court to set aside the Electoral Court’s decision.