Johannesburg – On Saturday, the African National Congress (ANC) expressed dismay that its candidate list sent to the Electoral Commission (IEC) was leaked and broadcast online.
Without denying or confirming the accuracy of the list circulating on social media, the ANC said: “We have noted with concern that ANC candidate lists that appear to emanate from the IEC online candidate nomination system are now circulating on social media.
“We have conveyed our concerns to the IEC about this unauthorised release of personal information in potential contravention of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).”
The ANC said it submitted its National and Provincial candidate lists for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections via the IEC’s online candidate nomination system on Friday, (8 March 2024), as stipulated in the Electoral Timetable.
In a statement released by ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, the party said: “We wish to reiterate our full confidence in the IEC’s proven track record of administering and overseeing free, fair, and credible elections over the past three decades.
“The IEC continues to do so with professionalism, impartiality, and integrity, attributes which have also extended to the secure management of confidential information.
“The ANC supports the IEC in any efforts it may pursue to investigate the unauthorised release and hold anyone responsible to account.
“We reiterate that the ANC has and will continue to speak for itself throughout this process on the nature and constitution of the ANC’s candidate lists.”
The ANC said it will announce its list on Monday as planned earlier.
Commenting on the matter the IEC said in a statement that it “has become aware of lists of candidates related to two political parties, the ANC and MK Party that have been circulated or disclosed in a manner not authorised”.
The IEC confirmed that it has received correspondence from the ANC regarding the anomaly.
“Indications are that the data emanated from internal system-generated reports within the Commission,” the IEC said.
“To this end, the Commission has directed an inquiry to establish the circumstances and identity of the source of the unauthorised disclosure.
“To the extent that the disclosed documents also contain personal information of data subjects, the Commission has reported the incident to the Information Regulator in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.”