Cape Town – The Electoral Court of SA in Bloemfontein on Wednesday dismissed the GOOD party’s complaint regarding the over 180 people on the voters’ roll who used the same address.
The by-elections in George will go ahead as scheduled.
RELATED: GOOD Party Calls For Postponement Of George By-Elections – The Bulrushes
“Having read the papers and considered the matter, the following order is issued… the application is dismissed with no order as to costs,” the court ruled.
The respondents in the matter included the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Democratic Alliance (DA), African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters, Die Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners, Patriotic Alliance, and the African Restoration Alliance.
Reacting to the ruling, the GOOD party said it respects the independence of the judiciary as a cornerstone of our democracy.
“Sometimes, however, the judiciary gets it wrong,” said Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General.
“The Electoral Courts dismissal of GOODs application to postpone by-elections taking place in George today is such an instance.”
“The court was presented with prima facie evidence of voter registration fraud conducted by the DA.”
Herron said the evidence included affidavits by the perpetrators of the fraud, confessions that they had falsely registered voters in by-election wards, and the ID numbers, names, and real home addresses of fraudulently registered voters.
Herron said the full extent of the fraud has not fully been explored.
“To permit the by-elections to proceed in such circumstances is unacceptable in a country where corruption is rife. It sends out a message that fraud is acceptable,” Herron said.
“There is no point appealing the Electoral Court judgment as the by-elections will have taken place long before an appeal can be enrolled.”
He said GOOD will not let the matter rest.
“Regardless of the outcomes of the by-elections it will take further steps to compel the IEC to sanitise the voters roll,” said Herron.
“Should the IEC decline to undertake this vital task voluntarily, it will be back to the Electoral Court we go.
“With the country already on an election footing ahead of next years general elections, the integrity of the IECs systems is of critical national importance.”
