THE rerun of the Tlokwe by-elections are under threat because of disagreements between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and independent candidates.
The key elections are set to be a test for the commission after the Constitutional Court found last year that there were irregularities in 2013’s by-elections.
On Monday, IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela said the candidates had filed court papers at the Constitutional Court asking how the order it gave last year should be interpreted.
The court had requested that the IEC hold the elections again this year, and supply the candidates with a voters’ roll with names and verified addresses.
"We are currently studying the court papers with a view to opposing this court application," she said.
Ms Bapela said the candidates’ interpretation of the November court ruling would result in a large number of voters being disenfranchised.
She could not give further details until the legal team had finished studying the papers, she said.
However, the commission would continue to prepare for Wednesday’s rerun unless they were directed otherwise by the Electoral Court.
When contacted on Monday evening, independent candidate David Kham said he could not speak about the matter because they were locked in council chambers discussing the issue.
MARK THE SPOT: A voter casts his vote at Boitshoko Secondary School polling station in Ikageng, Tlokwe, during a by-election in August 2013. Picture: SOWETAN/SUNDAY WORLD
THE rerun of the Tlokwe by-elections are under threat because of disagreements between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and independent candidates.
The key elections are set to be a test for the commission after the Constitutional Court found last year that there were irregularities in 2013’s by-elections.
On Monday, IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela said the candidates had filed court papers at the Constitutional Court asking how the order it gave last year should be interpreted.
The court had requested that the IEC hold the elections again this year, and supply the candidates with a voters’ roll with names and verified addresses.
"We are currently studying the court papers with a view to opposing this court application," she said.
Ms Bapela said the candidates’ interpretation of the November court ruling would result in a large number of voters being disenfranchised.
She could not give further details until the legal team had finished studying the papers, she said.
However, the commission would continue to prepare for Wednesday’s rerun unless they were directed otherwise by the Electoral Court.
When contacted on Monday evening, independent candidate David Kham said he could not speak about the matter because they were locked in council chambers discussing the issue.
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Change: 2.45%
Change: 2.03%
Change: 2.33%
Change: 2.95%
Change: 2.13%
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Change: 1.39%
Change: 0.96%
Change: 1.24%
Change: -0.60%
Change: -1.39%
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