82 objections including Zuma’s exclusion from Parliament confirmed by IEC

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that 82 objections were received in relation to candidates nominated by 21 political parties for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections (NPE).

The Commission says the objection process is among the various milestones in the candidate nomination process, which closed on 8 March.

ZUMA OBJECTION UPHELD BY ELECTORAL COMMISSION

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya als said that former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party had been informed that Zuma could not contest for a seat in Parliament. He was among eight candidates who had been objected against.

“In the case of former president Zuma, yes, we did receive an objection, which has been upheld,” Moepya said according to News24.

TOTAL OF 82 OBJECTIONS RECEIVED BY COMMISSION

“Of the 82 objections received, 74 were submitted on time. A total of 8 objections were submitted after the cut-off time,” said Mosotho Moepya, the Chairperson of the Commission, during a media briefing on Thursday.

He said the Commission could only act within the confines of the law and the Constitution. It has written to the objectors, candidates, and the nominating parties to advise them of its determinations.

“Any objector, party or candidate aggrieved by the decision of the Commission may appeal the decision with the Electoral Court by 02 April 2024,” Moepya said.

MANY OBJECTIONS FAILED TO MEET PRESCRIBED FORMAT – IEC

He said despite many of the objections not meeting the prescribed format for submission, the Commission had considered whether substantively the objections met the criteria in the constitution and the law.

“The Commission dismissed objections in relation to seven candidates and sustained one objection,” said the Chairperson.
The IEC said the candidate nomination process would culminate with the Commission releasing the lists of political parties and candidates appearing on the various ballot papers. These lists will be published on 10 April.

SIX INDEPEDENT CANDIDATES TO CONTEST SEATS IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

“A novel feature in NPE 2024 is that independent candidates will contest for seats in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. Six independent candidates will contest for seats in the National Assembly, and six will contest the provincial legislature elections,” the Commission said.

It once again reminded voters that they may only vote at a voting station in which they are registered. Voters who will unavoidably be away from their voting districts on election day may give notice of their intention to vote at another identified voting station by 17 May 2024, it said.

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