The uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) is hopeful that the Constitutional Court will hear its urgent application to interdict the first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) scheduled for Friday.
This as the party today filed papers at the court, arguing that the 29th May elections were rigged and is demanding a recount of the votes.
The party has listed the office of the Chief Justice, Secretary to Parliament, Electoral Commission of South Africa, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, among the respondents.
The application comes as the NA has already indicated that the sittings will continue, without 58 elected members of MK.
The NA has also cancelled all travel and accommodation arrangements for MK members, after the party said it’ll boycott the sittings.
The MK’s late application has however baffled some political analysts.
“Ideally, the MK party would have been expected once they were unhappy about the IEC performance and the outcome of the elections, the MK should have opted rather to go to the Electoral Court, instead of now rushing to the Constitutional Court on an emergency basis.
I think they have made matters somewhat unnecessarily difficult for themselves, because in terms of the law any parties that participated in the elections, if they’re aggrieved about the outcome or anything, they have three days to record their displeasure or reservations,” said YouFM resident political analyst Abbey Makoe, who was speaking on YouFM News Hour.
The court is yet to set a date for the MK’s application.
