The Economic Freedom Fighters Students Command (EFFSC) will not contest this year’s student representative council (SRC) elections at the University of Fort Hare’s East London campus.
This is according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
The EFFSC and Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (Daso) both missed the deadline to submit the names of their candidates for the elections scheduled to take place on April 12.
Although the EFFSC laid a formal complaint with the IEC, saying the submissions venue closed before the 3.30pm cutoff time on Friday, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Bongani Zwane dismissed it.
“Having considered the complaint in terms of the privileges as per the SRC constitution I consider the complaint as invalid and with no substance and therefore the party will not form part of the contesting parties reflected on the ballot paper,” he wrote.
In response, EFFSC provincial coordinator Luthando Amos said: “One thing for sure is that the EFFSC will contest the elections.”
Amos said he would raise the matter with the party’s national leadership at a meeting on Friday.
Daso in the Eastern Cape has also lodged a complaint with the IEC regarding the elections at the Alice campus. The party also alleged it had arrived before the cut-off time to submit but the IEC had already closed and refused to accept their list of candidates.
“We have lodged an official complaint with the IEC with regards to the matter and await their response,” said Daso’s constituency leader in the Eastern Cape, Hlomela Bucwa.
Bucwa said if their complaint was rejected they would consider legal action “so as to ensure that students were given the opportunity to elect a party of their choice in a free and fair election”. — sinom@dispatch.co.za
EFF barred from UFH elections
This is according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
The EFFSC and Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (Daso) both missed the deadline to submit the names of their candidates for the elections scheduled to take place on April 12.
Although the EFFSC laid a formal complaint with the IEC, saying the submissions venue closed before the 3.30pm cutoff time on Friday, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Bongani Zwane dismissed it.
“Having considered the complaint in terms of the privileges as per the SRC constitution I consider the complaint as invalid and with no substance and therefore the party will not form part of the contesting parties reflected on the ballot paper,” he wrote.
In response, EFFSC provincial coordinator Luthando Amos said: “One thing for sure is that the EFFSC will contest the elections.”
Amos said he would raise the matter with the party’s national leadership at a meeting on Friday.
Daso in the Eastern Cape has also lodged a complaint with the IEC regarding the elections at the Alice campus. The party also alleged it had arrived before the cut-off time to submit but the IEC had already closed and refused to accept their list of candidates.
“We have lodged an official complaint with the IEC with regards to the matter and await their response,” said Daso’s constituency leader in the Eastern Cape, Hlomela Bucwa.
Bucwa said if their complaint was rejected they would consider legal action “so as to ensure that students were given the opportunity to elect a party of their choice in a free and fair election”. — sinom@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos