Powerful! MK party challenges IEC disqualification of former President Jacob Zuma
The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party says former President, Jacob Zuma, was imprisoned by the Constitutional Court without being afforded his constitutional rights to a free and fair trial.
This comes as the MK Party heads to the Electoral Court to challenge the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) decision that disqualifies Zuma from standing for public office.
The party last month was notified that the former President could not appear on the MK party’s candidate list due to his previous contempt of court conviction.
The Constitution states that any person who is convicted of an offense and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine is disqualified from standing for public office.
Zuma was convicted of contempt of court in 2021 for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission investigating State Capture allegations.
The MK party argues that these proceedings can only be described as civil proceedings that merely invoked a criminal sanction which is the 15-month sentence.
Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela says, “President Zuma was incarcerated off the back of what would be Section 35 of the Constitution, where you ought to be before a judge and have a fair trial.”
“President Zuma was incarcerated by a constitutional court. He was not afforded his constitutional rights, to a free trial, so we cannot necessarily label it as a criminal case.” All he did was contempt of court and that is not a criminal case. It’s more so a civil matter and the IEC Act refers to a criminal matter,” Nddlela adds.
https://twitter.com/OasisConnectZA/status/1777733727164014992
Former President Jacob Zuma has cautioned the Electoral Commission (IEC) against interfering in parliamentary affairs. Zuma said the Commission should refrain from involving itself in political matters and instead focus solely on ensuring free and fair elections.
Zuma reaffirmed his stance while addressing scores of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party members outside the South Gauteng High Court, where the IEC and the MK party are engaged in a court battle over his candidature for the upcoming May elections.
