ATM President Vuyo Zungula. Picture: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency(ANA)
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has confirmed that it has complied with the recent directives issued by the Electoral Court in its court case against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
This comes after the court last week issued directives to the ATM as the applicant and other political parties represented in the National Assembly to comply and submit their affidavits on time before the matter is heard in court.
On Monday, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula confirmed that he had made his submission to the Electoral Court.
Last week, The Star reported that in a directive dated July 8, the court instructed respondents to file their answering affidavits by no later than 4pm on July 10.
More than 19 political parties – including the ANC, DA, EFF, IFP, FF Plus, UDM, African Independent Congress, COPE, GOOD Party, ACDP, PAC, Al Jama-ah, MK Party, ActionSA, Rise Mzansi, BOSA, United Africans for Transformation and the Patriotic Alliance – are cited as respondents by the Electoral Court in its directive.
“As the African Transformation Movement (ATM), we have heeded the call of the Electoral Court and have submitted affidavits detailing various irregularities, discrepancies, and international malicious actions that occurred during the 2024 National Provincial Elections (NPE).
“Our affidavits touch on a range of issues, including the accuracy and inconsistency of the voters roll, discrepancies affecting ballot boxes, issues related to vote counting, challenges related to Section 24A, malfunctioning of Voter Management Devices (VMDS), and misconduct of the Electoral Commission (IEC) officials,” said Zungula.
The ATM and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party are some of the aggrieved parties seeking to have the recent election results set aside and be deemed null and void due to alleged vote rigging.
However, the MK Party recently abandoned its own court case for now, even though party leader Jacob Zuma claimed that his party has evidence the size of an elephant to prove its case.
Zuma said its lawyers require more time to go through large volumes of evidence, which is why it had chosen to put the matter on hold.
However, the ATM has chosen to proceed with its matter, saying some of the issues highlight the urgent need for electoral justice and transparency.
“We firmly believe that the voice of the people should not be suffocated, and every vote should count. Therefore, we conclude our affidavits by advocating for a re-vote or rerun of the elections,” the party said in a statement following the affidavit.
Party spokesperson, Zama Ntshona, indicated that Zungula and the entire party are determined to fight for the realisation of electoral justice in the country.
The Star
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