Pretoria - The submission of candidate lists by political parties went well, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said on Wednesday.
“The clock has ticked and it's after five, the doors are closed,” IEC chief executive Mosotho Moepya told reporters outside Election House in Centurion, south of Pretoria.
“The process proceeded very well. People have come on time.”
He could not immediately say how many parties had submitted their candidate lists and deposit fees.
The deadline for parties to submit their candidate lists and deposit cheques to contest the elections was 5pm on Wednesday.
Those contesting elections nationally had to pay R200 000 and R45 000 for each province.
Moepya said the IEC would now verify the lists.
The Patriotic Alliance was the last party to enter the IEC office 10 minutes before the deadline.
PA secretary Kenny Kunene, dressed in a lime green shirt, rushed towards the doors.
Kunene said his party would be contesting elections nationally with the majority of its focus on the Western Cape.
“Sixty percent of our focus and efforts will be in the Western Cape because we believe we can capture power in the Western Cape. However, we 1/8are 3/8 very strong in... the Northern Cape and Gauteng.”
He said Gayton McKenzie was the PA's presidential candidate.
Kunene said he waited till the last minute to submit the list when it was quiet.
“We didn't want to come in with the up and down. We know people like to sing even when they just submitting documents. We waited till it was quiet.”
The Congress of the People's president Mosiuoa Lekota arrived an hour before the deadline with a box of yellow files.
After submitting his list Lekota said Cope's candidate process had gone well.
“There was tremendous amount of enthusiasm. We think Cope will surprise people,” he said.
The party was contesting elections nationally and in all nine provinces.
Lekota said Cope had also paid its full registration fee.
Shortly after Cope, the Pan Africanist Congress arrived at 4.15pm.
Earlier at around 3.30pm, Agang SA, the United Democratic Movement and The Azanian People's Organisation arrived at Election House with their lists.
Agang SA's chief operating officer Andrew Gasnolar said his party was contesting the elections nationally and in seven provinces.
The party would not contest in KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape.
“We are aligned to our structures and decided to only register where we have done real work,” he said.
“We've submitted our lists and paid our deposit.”
Agang SA walked into the IEC office with 16 file boxes.
UDM national treasurer Thandi Nontenja said her party was contesting nationally and all nine provinces.
“We are settling ourselves up to take two of those provinces,” she said outside the IEC's office.
She would not say which two provinces.
“We are hoping to perform better this elections.”
Nontenja and a colleague walked into Election House carrying three files containing the UDM's lists.
Azapo secretary general Lefoka Kganare said his party was excited to be contesting all nine provinces for the first time.
“This time around we are very excited. We are hoping for improved performance and better results,” he said.
The party's presidential candidate was Jake Dikobo.
Earlier on Wednesday, the National Freedom Party, African Independent Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters submitted their lists.
The IEC sent out a list earlier in the morning of parties who had already submitted.
They are:
* African National Congress
* Democratic Alliance
* Inkatha Freedom Party
* National Freedom Party
* Freedom Front Plus
* African People's Convention
* Africa Unite Party
* Minority Front
* United Christian Democratic Party
* Ubumbano Lwesiwe Sabangoni
* Sindawonye Progressive Party
* Al Jama-ah
* SA Progressive Civic Organisation.
Sapa