Electoral Court dismisses ATM's application that there was vote rigging in 2024 polls
The party had asked the court to declare the May 2024 polls invalid, not free and fair and to set the result aside.
Picture: Abigail Javier/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The Electoral Court has dismissed an application from the African Transformation Movement (ATM) that there was vote rigging in last year’s polls, saying the claims were vague and not supported by evidence.
The party had asked the court to declare the May 2024 polls invalid, not free and fair and to set the result aside.
The application was opposed by the Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
In its ruling handed down this week, the court highlighted that the mere fact that there were complaints does not prove that they were well-founded or that the elections were compromised.
The court said the ATM's written submissions largely contained sweeping allegations that were unsubstantiated.
It's described the party’s claims as nothing more than assertions and expressions, based on unfounded suspicions and more often than not based on inadmissible hearsay.
READ: ATM files papers in Electoral Court to have 2024 elections declared null and void
In his arguments to the court, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula claimed the Electoral Commission was biased towards the ANC.
He also complained that there were inaccuracies in the certified voters’ roll, a refusal to furnish voters with ballot papers, tampering with ballot boxes and the manipulation in the sorting, counting and verification of votes.
In response, the Electoral Commission dismissed all the claims and argued the ATM had failed to follow the procedure for raising objections at the appropriate time, under the Electoral Act.
The court has found in favour of this argument, adding that the irregularities complained of had not been proven to materially affect the final result of the elections.
The court said it also had no jurisdiction to declare as unconstitutional the section of the Electoral Act that allows a voter to vote outside of their district by prior application to the Electoral Commission.
The application was dismissed without a cost order.