Constitutional Court reserves judgment on IEC appeal over Zuma's candidacy

Former president Jacob Zuma arrives at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg for the urgent appeal application by the IEC regarding his eligibility to run as a candidate for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in the 29 May general electionsThis comes after justices of the apex court heard marathon arguments presented by the IEC's legal representative, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, as well as Zuma and the MKP's lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu SC.

The IEC wants the apex court to provide certainty on the proper interpretation of this section. This after the Electoral Court - among other reasons - found that, because Zuma did not have the ability to appeal the sentence imposed on him by the Constitutional Court, it did not constitute a"sentence" under the section.Advocate Ngcukaitobi argued that the Electoral Court erred in its admission of Zuma's candidacy for this month’s polls.

“The country will therefore be sleepwalking into an unfree and unfair election, and the consequences will be grave for our own commitment to the rule of law and commitment to our own Constitution. It will create the impression that we don’t respect the rule of law and we are prepared to risk the legitimacy of our own electoral process,” Ngcukaitobi added.

Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya announced the dismissal of the recusal application. While she did not immediately provide reasons for the decision, she said they would be detailed in the court’s written ruling on the matter.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

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