No law says I can’t lead SA again – Zuma

Zuma addressed MK Party supporters outside the High Court in Johannesburg, where he attended his private prosecution case against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He said his former party, the African National Congress, made him resign.

“Even if I had completed the two terms, there is no law that says if you have a new party that has never contested elections, you can’t contest. The MK party has never stood for elections, and Jacob Zuma has never led the MK party in elections. Without considering that, they already say, his face will not appear on the ballot.”

The former president lambasted the Electoral Commission's (IEC) decision to exclude him from the ballot after an Electoral Court order cleared to contest the upcoming national elections under the MK party banner.

READ: Zuma wins IEC appeal, back on ballot

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 reaction statement, the IEC said they had requested the Electoral Court to hand down reasons for the orders issued by the court.

Zuma questioned Ramaphosa’s absence from court in the private prosecution matter against him, implying that the law is not applied equally.

The case has been postponed until August 6 to allow for the conclusion of processes in the main case between Zuma, senior Prosecutor Billy Downer, and journalist Karyn Maughn, which the former president is challenging in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

READ MORE: Zuma to appeal latest Downer ruling in graft case

While proclaiming his innocence, Zuma said Ramaphosa had not been made to answer for the millions in foreign currency that was found stashed in his couch at his Phala Phala private farm.

“I remember when I had gone to Cuba for medical treatment, and my legal team was told by a judge that I should come to court.

“I am referred to as the former president, but the president who took over from me has never been to court. Even after he was found with money hidden in pillows and mattresses. He’s never set foot in court. What kind of country is this?”

Zuma celebrates his 82nd birthday on Friday, 12 April.

Soon after Zuma’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, led the crowd in singing happy birthday to the former president – the MK Party delivered a stern warning to those eyeing top positions.

He said all efforts must go towards securing a two-thirds majority in May.

“People who want to bully their way to the top, sorry. We said these current structures are interim, they aren’t permanent. If you have been given a position, show us through your work that you can lead even in the permanent structures.”

This comes after a recent reshuffle of the newly formed party’s interim structures, which saw the redeployment of youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile and two others.

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