NFP, AIC submit candidate lists

The National Freedom Party will contest the general elections for the first time this year, secretary general Professor Nhlanhla Khubisa said.

"I think we are a force to be reckoned with," he said outside the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) office in Centurion, south of Pretoria.

"I think we are ready, our election campaign is in full steam. I think we'll definitely do well as a party."

The NFP has submitted its candidate lists to the IEC. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Wednesday.

Khubisa would not say who the party's presidential candidate was. He said a media briefing would be held soon to announce that.

The NFP was also contesting all nine provinces.

Political parties are also expected to pay their deposit to contest the elections to the IEC on Wednesday.

Those contesting nationally have to pay R200,000 and R45,000 per province they contest.

The African Independent Congress on Wednesday said it had submitted its list.

Party leader Mandla Galo said the AIC was contesting nationally and in three provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape.

This was the party's first time contesting nationally. In 2009 it contested in the Eastern Cape only.

"We are proud that we have managed to register at national level," Galo said.

"The organisation is growing and we are very happy with the pace."

He said the AIC was confident it would make its mark in these elections.

Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters was expected to submit its list and deposit its cheque to the IEC on Wednesday afternoon.