Parliament, Thursday, 15 October 2026 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Xola Nqola, welcomed today’s Constitutional Court ruling on amendments to the list of candidates on ballot papers, which provided the necessary legal guidance.
He said that this clear judicial guidance on electoral laws strengthens public confidence in the electoral system and ensures that democratic participation remains protected.
The apex court today ruled in favour of the African National Congress (ANC) and ordered the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to take the necessary steps to include the affected party lists and candidate nominations on ballot papers and in other relevant electoral processes before the elections on 4 November. This follows an earlier ruling by the Electoral Court that upheld the IEC’s decision to exclude 181 ANC candidates in six municipalities because the party failed to click the “submit as final” button after uploading its candidate information onto the IEC’s electronic nomination system before the submission deadline.
Mr Nqola said the court judgment demonstrates the robustness and integrity of the country’s constitutional democracy. “It is clearly demonstrated in this case, where legal disputes regarding electoral processes and constitutional rights were adjudicated through the independent judicial system,” the Chairperson said.
He went on to say that the ruling reinforces the supremacy of the Constitution and highlights the critical role of the judiciary in upholding democratic processes. “Our Constitution ensures that all parties, institutions and private citizens have access to impartial legal recourse whenever statutory interpretations or administrative disputes arise,” he said. “The committee calls on all state institutions, political parties and South Africans at large to uphold the rule of law, respect judicial outcomes and to work together to ensure free and fair elections.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MR XOLA NQOLA.
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E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
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