{
  "id": 15128603,
  "title": "‘We fear no one’: IEC defends decision to extend ANC ruling to 32 parties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/we-fear-no-one-iec-defends-decision-to-extend-anc-ruling-to-32-parties",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T05:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/politics/we-fear-no-one-iec-defends-decision-to-extend-anc-ruling-to-32-parties/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has defended its decision to extend a Constitutional Court ruling to 32 other political parties, asserting that it acted independently and in accordance with its mandate to ensure free and fair elections. IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasized the commission's commitment to its oath of office, stating that it would not be intimidated by the African National Congress (ANC) or any other party. The decision to extend the ruling came after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the ANC, excluding 181 ANC candidates and 51 ward candidates from the November 4 local government elections. Moepya explained that the IEC needed to consider the implications for other parties in similar circumstances to maintain fairness in the electoral process. Despite criticism from ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji, who accused the IEC of acting like a political party, Moepya rejected the suggestion that the commission had been intimidated by the ANC and stressed the importance of upholding the commission's independence and adherence to the law.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}