IEC hopeful it can win its case against Jacob Zuma
The IEC says it is positive that the Constitutional Court can rule in its favour in its case against MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Executive Sy Mamabolo says they believe there is a chance that the Constitutional Court might rule in their favour regarding the case against uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma.
The IEC lodged an urgent appeal to the Constitutional Court against the Electoral Court’s decision to set aside its decision (to disqualify Zuma from contesting the upcoming elections as the presidential candidate of the MK Party) following the appeal by the party.
IEC ON ITS CASE AGAINST MK PARTY LEADER JACOB ZUMA
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Sunday, Mamabolo said the Commission wouldn’t have taken this course of action if it did not believe there were no reasonable prospects of success.
“We believe in the correctness of the case we took to the Concourt. We believe that it is important that every South African be placed in a position of knowledge of what section 47 (1)(e) actually means in the context of a sentence emitted out by the Constitutional Court.
“Whichever way the Constitutional Court calls it, the Commission will abide by it. We’ll receive the clarity that we need for everybody for this election and also for future elections,” Mamabolo said.
[WATCH] IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo on the prospects of the Constitutional Court ruling in their favour in their appeal against MK party leader Jacob Zuma's candidature for parliament: "The commission would not have taken this course of action…"#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/ewBgn2SYdz
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 5, 2024
BACKGROUND TO THE CASE
The IEC’s decision to bar Zuma from contesting for a seat in the National Assembly was based on an objection it received when it published candidate lists from political parties.
In the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party candidate list, Zuma sat comfortably at number one, and the objection was based on the fact that Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court in 2021.
Zuma was sentenced for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.