WEST RAND, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) has clarified that its ongoing Constitutional Court challenge against the IEC over its candidate list is not an attack on the electoral commission, but rather a pursuit of procedural clarity.
According to ANC First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane, the legal battle stems from technical hurdles rather than institutional hostility. The party alleges that a malfunction with the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) electronic submission system prevented 181 of its candidates from being registered before the official deadline.
After the electoral court initially dismissed the party’s challenge, the ANC escalated the matter to the Constitutional Court. The highest court is scheduled to hear the case later this month, just weeks before South Africans head to the ballots on November 4.
“We are exercising the rights that are enshrined in the constitution, and hence our battle is not against the IEC,” Mokonyane stated while on the campaign trail. “It is about dealing with and clarifying the processes that have led to us not being able to register everybody.”
Tackling Illegal Mining and Community Safety
Beyond the legal battles in the courtroom, the ANC is taking its campaign directly to the ground in the West Rand, where communities are grappling with severe socio-economic and security challenges. Illegal mining, driven by zama zamas, remains a critical issue in the region.
The Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in the West Rand region, who also serves as the local Mayor, emphasized that resolving these crises requires a dual focus on stringent law enforcement and community safety.
Highlighting the government’s response, the Mayor pointed to the deployment of the military and weekly police interventions, specifically noting “Operation Vala Umgodi,” aimed at dismantling illegal mining syndicates.
“Obviously, these zama zamas go beyond terrorizing communities, so the issue of visible policing has become very important in our region and district,” the Mayor explained. “What has been made quite clear is that we will not allow our communities to be taken over by zama zamas. We will not allow our communities to live in fear.”
The Mayor noted that in areas where residents had been displaced by the presence of illegal miners, police forces have successfully intervened to restore order and ensure community members can safely return to their homes.
Residents Demand Action on Service Delivery
While security remains a pressing concern, residents on the campaign trail are equally vocal about deteriorating basic services. Community members presented a stark list of grievances to visiting politicians, highlighting a severe lack of basic infrastructure.
Unemployment was cited as the most critical issue, followed closely by a shortage of early childhood development facilities, or crèches, for children.
“We don’t have lights when you go outside because it’s too dark, and it’s not safe for us to go to work,” one resident explained, noting that the lack of streetlights poses a significant physical risk. “It’s really, really a big problem for us.”
The community’s demands are clear and urgent: job creation for the youth, functional street lighting, and reliable access to water. “After the next elections, we want jobs. The youth must work. We want street lights. We also have no water. We want water,” a resident urged.
With the November 4 elections rapidly approaching, political parties are intensifying their grassroots campaigns. However, for the residents of the West Rand, the ultimate challenge lies in ensuring that the promises made on the campaign trail translate into sustained, long-term action long after the votes have been counted.
