Jacob Zuma disqualified from contesting elections, confirms IEC
Former President Jacob Zuma has been disqualified from contesting as a party candidate, ahead of the May 29th elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission confirmed on Thursday, that it has received and upheld an objection in relation to Zuma's nomination.
The former president is candidate number one on the list of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
The party named him as their presidential candidate, however, section 47 of the Constitution 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.
The candidate can only become eligible again after five years.
IEC Chairperson, Mosotho Moepya says the commission did uphold an objection received against Zuma.
"In the case of former president Jacob Zuma, yes we did receive an objection which has been upheld.
The party that nominated him has been informed, and so the objectors are being informed," says Moepya.
He can however object to the commission's decision at the Electoral Court by 02 April 2024.
Moepya says the commission received 82 objections in relation to candidates nominated by 21 political parties.
"Section 47 and 106 of the Constitution set out the eligibility criteria and qualification for the national assembly and provincial legislature respectively.
They provide that every citizen who is qualified to vote for the national assembly and/or provincial legislature is eligible to stand for election except: anyone who has been declared to be of unsound mind by a court of the Republic, unrehabilitated insolvents, any person who was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine.
This disqualification ends five years after the sentence has been completed. This ground of disqualification 2 does not extend to persons who are yet to be sentenced and those, while sentenced, are yet to exhaust appeal mechanisms available to them," he said.
Moepya says the commission dismissed objections in relation to 7 candidates and sustained one objection.
"Chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the Commission could only act within the confines of the law and the Constitution. The Commission 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.
The process of candidate nomination will culminate with the Commission releasing the lists of political parties and candidates that will appear on the various ballot papers.
These lists will be published on 10 April 2024,"says Moepya.
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