IEC mulls Electoral Court’s decision to allow Zuma to stand for elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it’s taking legal advice on the decision of the Electoral Court to allow former president Jacob Zuma to contest the upcoming general elections.

The Commission says it will request the Court to provide reasons for dismissing its decision to bar Zuma, the presidential candidate of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which appealed against the IEC’s decision.

[MEDIA STATEMENT]

Electoral Commission acknowledges Orders of the Electoral Court. pic.twitter.com/UWeu9AMYEA

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) April 9, 2024

ELECTORAL COMMISSION GETS TWO COURT ORDERS

“The Electoral Commission has today received two orders from the Electoral Court. We have taken note of the contents of both orders. Naturally, the Commission is taking legal advice on both matters and will chart a way forward based on such advice as well as reasoned judgments that it may receive, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future,” said the IEC in a statement.

It said: “Furthermore, we have noted that the orders were issued without reasoned judgement. In order to understand the basis of the conclusions reach in both matters, it is important that reasons are provided.

DA TAKES IEC TO COURT OVER VOTING STATION ABROAD

“The second order relates to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) challenge regarding voting stations abroad and the interpretation of the word consulate to include honorary consulates as provided in section 33(3) of the Electoral Act.

“In order to understand the basis of the conclusions reached in both matters, it is important that reasons are provided. We will accordingly request the Electoral Court to hand down reasons for the orders made,” the Commission said.

Independent political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said the presence of former President Jacob Zuma on the ballot paper should not be taken lightly because Zuma was loved by many.

MPOFU TELLS ELECTORAL COURT IT HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CASE

The IEC’s decision to bar the MK Party leader from contesting for a parliamentary seat was based on an objection it received against his name following his sentence of 15 months imprisonment in 2021.

Zuma was sentenced for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. His lawyer advocate, Dali Mpofu, argued that the IEC had no authority to remove Zuma from the list.

He also said that the Electoral Court had no right to decide on the matter, sealing the case for Zuma.

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