ConCourt 2019 Elections

Photo: Flickr / SS Bissey

ConCourt thwarts last-minute bid to postpone the 2019 Elections

With just six days left until the 2019 Elections, ConCourt was faced with an intriguing decision on Thursday: Here’s why one group wanted the vote delayed.

ConCourt 2019 Elections

Photo: Flickr / SS Bissey

The Constitutional Court of South Africa has put its foot down on Thursday, after a group of citizens who wanted the right to contest the 2019 Elections as independent candidates saw their case postponed.

Why did they want the 2019 Elections postponing?

As eNCA report, the claimants reason that it is “unfair” on South Africa to align themselves with a political party, rather than have the choice of voting for an independent candidate: The option is a popular one in both the UK and the USA, and the legal team acting on behalf of the group wanted it brought to the shores of Mzansi.

ConCourt: Here’s what happens next

However, the application has fallen at its first hurdle: The urgent interdict was dismissed by ConCourt, who didn’t feel that this was a matter of immediate importance. Instead, the case will now resume on 15 August – more than three months after the 2019 Elections are done and dusted.

The group were initially aiming to push next week’s vote back, to allow time for independent candidates to register themselves and get on the campaign trail. However, with just six days until the ballot boxes open, any sort of delay would have caused chaos across the country.

Independent candidates in South African elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed on Thursday that everything is in order for the sixth democratic vote. Their preparations would have been severely shaken had the ConCourt ruled in favour of the independents, but this is a matter that won’t be back in the dock until the end of winter.