Zuma blocked from May 29 election candidacy

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has decided that President Jacob Zuma will not be allowed to stand for election on 29 May.

Zuma will not stand in for elections

The IEC has come to a decision that former Jacob Zuma should not be part of the 29 May elections.

His candidature was rejected after a decision by the IEC that the former president has a criminal record with a sentence exceeding 15 months.

According to the Daily Maverick, Political parties lodged objections against eight candidates, but only one complaint concerning Zuma was upheld by the IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya.

Zuma can appeal this decision by approaching the Electoral Court, which must reach a verdict by 9 April.

This timeline is crucial as final lists need to be published, and ballot papers printed for the May 29 election.

The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party and the objecting party have been informed by the IEC about the decision.

Moepye stated that regardless of the outcome from the Electoral Court, the printing of the ballots and the election schedule will proceed as planned. This is because the party’s image will still appear on the ballot paper, and the party will continue participating in the contest.

IEC’s deputy chairperson, Janet Love, expressed concern over the violent statements made by some party supporters, which threatened the elections.

MK Party Prepared to Take Legal Action if Zuma is Excluded from Elections

Earlier this year the IEC had stated that Zuma’s 2021 prison sentence for contempt of court could prevent him from contesting this year’s general elections.

According to the Daily Maverick the MK Party said it was unconcerned by a clause in the Constitution that will bar Zuma from standing as a public office-bearer after the general elections.

MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said they would challenge the IEC in court if Zuma were to be barred from contesting, on the basis that Zuma never appeared in court and was incarcerated for contempt of court.

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