MEDIA RELEASE
2024-05-28
SUMMARY: The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) has expressed serious concerns over the credibility of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) following the circulation of various video clips that might threaten public trust in the IEC in a year that has been particularly challenging. The Labour Party warns that these issues might lead the public to question the legitimacy of the upcoming 2024 national and provincial elections, potentially resulting in national instability, and it calls for immediate action from relevant authorities to address these failures and ensure a free and fair election.
The Labour Party has taken note of various video clips on social media, WhatsApp and even mainstream media, showing what seems to be IEC officials being caught red-handed with alleged election fraud.
“We are extremely worried about these disturbing clips and how the voting public will perceive the credibility – or lack thereof – of the IEC,” said Labour Party Secretariat Krister Janse van Rensburg. “Even though some of it has not been proven to be true, this is exactly the type of thing that you don’t want to see in South Africa during these times,” he said.
This year has been bad for the IEC – probably worse than other years – in that their credibility has been challenged numerous times,” he added. During the build-up to the 2024 national and provincial elections, the IEC has been the topic of several sagas that put it in a bad light. One of the main events was when it leaked the ruling party’s candidates’ lists and then took the dishonourable route of blaming it on a junior official.
“We are genuinely concerned over the IEC and its apparent lack of security measures around the ballot papers,” said Van Rensburg. “It may very well cause people to view these elections to be questionable and the results, in such a case, might even lead to instability in the country”, he warned.
“We are deeply concerned about the ailing credibility of what is supposed to be a trustworthy and independent Chapter 9 institution, and there are genuine concerns that this election will not be free and fair,” he added. “We call on the powers that be to urgently address these failures, in order to ensure a free and fair election”, he concluded.
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*[More details regarding the Labour Party appears 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.
