Mohalenyane Phakela
THE High Court will today rule on an application by five Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) candidates who claim to have won primary elections in their constituencies to represent the party in the upcoming general elections only to be disqualified from standing by the party hierarchy.
The RFP had introduced a thorough vetting process for its parliamentary candidates with victory in constituency primaries not guaranteed to grant one the right to represent the party. After winning the primaries , candidates had to be further vetted further by the party leadership in interviews before being given the greenlight to represent the party.
The five applicants in the case are Moloi Ralentsoe of Makhaleng constituency, Kobeli Rethabile Letlailana of Lithoteng, Matlotlo Ramaboli of Machache, Tšepo Joseph Lethobane of Thaba-Putsoa and Lejone Puseletso of Thaba-Moea. After winning the primaries, they failed the rest of the interview process.
The five are also challenging the criteria which the party used to select candidates in all other constituencies including those that were reserved for the 11 founding members of the party and were precluded from convening primaries.
Justice Tṥeliso Mokoko will deliver the judgement which will have a bearing on the FRP’s preparations especially because
the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has given parties until tomorrow to submit a list of their candidates for the 80 constituency contests. If the decision goes against the party, it could create hurdles for it in finalising its candidates list.
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