Electoral Court allows MK Party to withdraw ‘vote-rigging’ case

The Electoral Court has granted the MK Party leave to withdraw its application in which it sought to have the May national elections set aside, claiming there was vote rigging.However, the court on Friday imposed a punitive costs order against the party, ordering it to pay the costs of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and chief electoral officer on an attorney and client scale, including the costs of two counsel. Shortly after the election, the MK Party had claimed there was evidence of vote rigging and “huge acts of fraud”. These claims were roundly disputed by the…