MEDIA RELEASE
2024-05-10
SUMMARY: The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) is baffled by the judgment of the Constitutional Court of South Africa (ConCourt) this morning, in which is application for direct access was dismissed. The Party is awaiting the reasons for the judgment before making further comment.
In a brief judgment handed down this morning at the ConCourt, the application of the Labour Party was dismissed. The order merely indicated that the Labour Party’s “application for direct access is dismissed”. In handing down the order, it was said that the reasons will be provided later.
“We are baffled by this judgment”, said Labour Party Secretariat Krister Janse van Rensburg. “For the apex court of this country to disregard our application which was supported by nineteen other political parties, is almost unbelievable”, he said.
The application for direct access centred on the fact that the online submission system of the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) malfunctioned, leading to a substantial number of unrepresented parties not being able to finish uploading their documents to comply with section 27 of the Electoral Act.
According to the Labour Party’s summation based on media reports and announcements, there was a failure rate of around 62% for the 101 parties who attempted to upload on the system. The IEC, however, claims that the failure rate was only 35% as indicated in their answering affidavit.
“It seems to us that the court took an easy way out and avoided dealing with the merits of our case, rather focusing on the technical legal aspect of direct access”, said Van Rensburg. “We will await the detailed reasons for the judgment before we make further comment on this matter”, he concluded.
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*[More details regarding these legal cases can be found in previous media releases appearing on the Labour Party’s website, www.labourparty.org.za.]
For more information or to arrange interviews, please send a request to secretariat@labourparty.org.za.
The Labour Party is a social democratic party, very similar to labour parties in other countries.
The Labour Party is non-racial and therefore it is a home for all progressive and likeminded organisations, including trade unions and civil society organisations that share our values and ethos.
The Labour Party’s main campaign slogan is: “The power is in your hands”, emphasising the connection to work being done with one’s hands, but also the realisation that voters can bring change by what they do and how they vote.
The Labour Party emphasises that unemployment remains enemy number one.
The Labour Party believes that work brings not only social mobility, but also dignity and pride.
Key policy objectives of the Labour Party include:
- Jobs for all, as we believe that there is more than enough work for everybody in South Africa.
- Quality public services and protection of state-owned enterprises to enhance the social wage of all citizens.
- Assurance that the rich mineral and natural resources of South Africa are used to empower South Africans in the broadest possible sense.
- Addressing youth unemployment by a conscription programme for unemployed youth.
- Overhauling the education system to produce the skills required by the economy.
- Diversification of the economy through industrialisation and beneficiation.
The Labour Party will base its policies on Christian values within the confines of a secular state.
