South Africa News
Political parties welcome Constitutional Court decision to proceed with elections
The decision of the Constitutional Court to go ahead with the local government elections this year has received the backing of the country’s political parties, but they have also called for the IEC to allow for a voter registration weekend after it had been cancelled at the end of July.
Following the decision of the Constitutional Court, most of the country’s political parties showed support of the court ruling that the elections should be held between October 27 and November 1.
DA leader John Steenhuisen welcomed the decision, saying that the ruling concurred with the interventions that they had made to the court.
“We got what we wanted, an election this year, between the 27th of October and the 1st of November, and we’ve got the Concourt pushing the IEC to host a voter registration weekend, so it couldn’t have been a better outcome for us, and we are delighted with the outcome.
“The court has ruled that we can have a free and fair election, and they’ve looked to international examples. Just two weeks ago, in Zambia, they had a free and fair election, and Mr Ramaphosa attended the inauguration of the new president,” Steenhuisen said.
He said that parties needed to adapt to the new normal and that the country could not subvert its democratic processes and the democratic rights of citizens because there was no telling how long Covid-19 was going to be around.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said that they were fully prepared for an election on 27 October in any case but also called for a voter registration weekend for voters to be able to register.
“It is a pity that we had to get into this situation because it means that the Electoral Commission and the Minister (of Cogta) did not do their homework properly. If they planned, they could have had a weekend for registration, and it is a big sign for South Africa as a Constitutional democracy. It means the Concourt wants to comply with the Constitution,” Groenewald said.
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said that they had complied with the IEC timelines because they understood that the court had the option to rule otherwise as it has happened, and as such, they are ready for the elections and were ready to campaign.
“We’re calling on our structures to now hit the ground running and go into these elections full force. We are going to have to be agile and apply the necessary flexibility to our campaign,” Hlengwa said.
Ganief Hendricks, Al Jama-ah leader, said that they were ready to head into the elections and contest and that they had already held three campaign meetings this week alone. EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said that the Concourt’s decision was sluggish but that they were ready and were going to contest in all the wards in the country.
“We must warn the IEC that it must not be tempted to open candidate registration. It must continue with the timetable, as it is. The only thing that would make this IEC look more credible is for it to open voter registration because that is the only thing that is going to make sure that there is proper participation by the citizens of this country,” Pambo said.
Pierre de Vos, constitutional law expert, said that the IEC’s application to the Concourt to postpone the elections was going to be an indirect amendment of the Constitution which a democratically elected parliament should do.
“The unelected judges shouldn’t really be asked to do so. So, in that sense, I am relieved that the court made the decision that it did. We’ll have to look at the reasons to see if these are good reasons, but in principle, it is a push back against people who want to implicate the court more and more into political decisions, and that is not in the legal realm,” De Vos said.
Source: News365
In other news – MaMkhize responds to unpaid salary allegations
ROYAL AM boss Shauwn “MaMkhize” has denied claims of unpaid salaries at his club.
Royal AM was among the most talked-about team this week on social media after reports that some players have not been paid. Learn more
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut down on the cost of governance in the country. Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers) highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.He said the size of the country’s bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.
According to him, the running of government institutions among other substantial components contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation. We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development,” he said.
The president of the senate emphasized the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensured transparency and accountability at all levels of governance. We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.
“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria for all citizens.
Source: pmnewsnigeria
In other news – Bad leaders making the life of Nigerians miserable – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, lamented that the economic situation in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse under President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman noted that bad leaders were intentionally making life miserable for Nigerians. Read more
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Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal. Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome – but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors’ organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor’s reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
Indeed, it is the first time City have failed to score at home in the Premier League since October 2021, a run of 47 games.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.
The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.
Here, Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.
It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City’s attacking assault.
Arteta’s side were composed but also willing to throw bodies on the line when danger threatened, not that they were ever in serious peril of conceding – a tribute to their display in itself.
They have kept clean sheets in both games against Manchester City this season, making them only the fourth team to shut out a Guardiola side twice in the same season.
Whether this is one point gained or two lost remains to be seen, but Arteta seemed satisfied enough at the final whistle.
source – BBC