IEC wants reasons on Zuma's candidacy ruling
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it will wait for the Electoral Court to issue the reasons that led to the order on Tuesday in which the Court dismissed the objection made against the IEC in the case brought by the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and its top candidate, former President Jacob Zuma.
The MK party approached the court to challenge the IEC decision in March to bar Zuma from contesting for a parliamentary seat.
The Electoral Court dismissed the IEC's objection.
Zuma was disqualified due to his previous conviction in 2021 in which he was sentenced to more than 12 months in jail for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission.
The IEC's decision was based on section 47 of the Constitution, which stipulates that a candidate cannot be elected to Parliament or Legislature if they have been convicted of a crime and sentenced without an option for a fine.
In its statement, the IEC said they had requested the Electoral Court to hand down reasons for the orders issued by the court.
"The first order relates to the candidacy of the erstwhile President Jacob Zuma whilst the second relates to the interpretation of the word consulate to include honorary consulates as provided in section 33(3) of the Electoral Act.
"Naturally the Commission is taking legal advice on both matters and will chart a way forward based on such advice as well as reasoned judgements that it may receive, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future."
The Electoral Court dismissed the objection with no order for costs.
Zuma’s name is expected to appear on the MK Party list when the IEC releases the final lists of party candidates by the deadline of Wednesday (today).
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