Economic Freedom Fighters v City of Cape Town and Another (17099/21) [2021] ZAWCHC 209 (19 October 2021)

Economic Freedom Fighters v City of Cape Town and Another (17099/21) [2021] ZAWCHC 209 (19 October 2021)

The Court found that the EFF established a clear constitutional right under section 19(1)(c) to campaign for votes, which would be irreparably harmed by the removal of its election banners. The City's By-Law, which prohibits banners for electioneering but allows them for other functions, was found to be prima facie...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] ZAWCHC 209
Parties
Applicant: Economic Freedom Fighters; Respondent: City of Cape Town; Respondent: Electoral Commission of South Africa
Court
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
17099/21
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Interim Interdict Pending Constitutional Review
Outcome
Interim interdict granted in favour of the applicant pending constitutional review.
Judges
Montzinger
Legal Topics
Interim Interdict, Section 19 Rights, Municipal by Laws, Electoral Campaigning, Irrationality Review
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Interim Interdict Section 19 Rights Municipal by Laws Electoral Campaigning Irrationality Review

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Economic Freedom Fighters

Applicant

City of Cape Town

Respondent

Electoral Commission of South Africa

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Interim Interdict Pending Constitutional Review

  1. 1 Whether the matter is urgent and warrants deviation from the Uniform Rules of Court.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant has established a prima facie or clear right to interim protection pending constitutional review.
  3. 3 Whether the City of Cape Town's By-Law and policies irrationally prohibit election banners, infringing section 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court found that the EFF established a clear constitutional right under section 19(1)(c) to campaign for votes, which would be irreparably harmed by the removal of its election banners. The City's By-Law, which prohibits banners for electioneering but allows them for other functions, was found to be prima facie irrational and arbitrary. The EFF complied with the legal requirements for interim relief, including urgency, irreparable harm, and balance of convenience, which favoured the applicant due to the limited duration and exceptional nature of the election period. The Court held that exceptional circumstances justified restraining the City's statutory power pending the...

Court Disposition

Interim interdict granted in favour of the applicant pending constitutional review.

Orders

  • The applicant's non-compliance with the forms and periods provided in the Uniform Rules of Court is condoned and the matter is dispensed with as one of urgency.
  • Pending the outcome of the constitutional challenge in Part B of the notice of motion, the City of Cape Town is interdicted and restrained from removing the election banners of the Economic Freedom Fighters within the City metropole.