National
One candidate objection upheld: IEC─── 05:41 Wed, 16 Apr 2014
Pretoria - Only one objection to candidates on political parties' lists has been upheld, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said on Tuesday.
"The electoral commission is not aware of any appeals which have been lodged with the Electoral Court," it said in a statement.
"The way is therefore now clear for the finalisation of the candidate lists and issue of certificates to all candidates in terms of section 31 of the Electoral Act."
The certificates would be issued to candidates by April 24.
The IEC said it had received 45 objections.
The parties which received objections were: the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, Agang SA, Congress of the People, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party, United Democratic Party, National Freedom Party and Ximoko Party.
Of these objections one was upheld because the candidate was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison, the IEC said.
It did not say who the candidate was or from which party.
"This disqualification ends five years after the sentence has been completed, which will be after the 2014 NPE [national and provincial] elections.
"The candidate has thus been disqualified," the IEC said.
The commission said there were some matters raised as objections which were administrative and referred to administrative resolution.
Agriculture union Tau SA and the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (IFAISA) both sent letters to the IEC objecting to President Jacob Zuma's number one position on the list of ANC candidates.
In terms of the Electoral Act, anyone, including the chief electoral officer, may object to the nomination of a candidate.
An objection can be made on three grounds: if a candidate does not qualify to stand in the election, if the prescribed acceptance of nomination is not signed by the candidate, and if no undertaking signed by the candidate that he/she is bound by the Electoral Code of Conduct is submitted.
These objections were not upheld.
Sapa
