The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says it will appeal the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) decision to uphold an objection brought against former President Jacob Zuma from being on the MK Party list to go to Parliament.
“uMkhonto we Sizwe as a party, as you would know, went through the court process that we won in the Electoral Court is going to be on the ballot paper; that is one thing that ought to be clear because there is a notion that President Zuma’s face or a leader’s face ought to be in the ballot and I think that’s a wrong view of it,” said Nhlamulo Ndlela, the spokesperson for the MK Party.
IEC UPHOLDS OBJECTION AGAINST MK PARTY LEADER
He said: “The actual emblem or the logo of a political party is going to be there, so it’s not a face per se,” according to SABC News. Today is the deadline for people to lodge applications against objections made against them at the Electoral Court.
The IEC said a candidate can be disqualified if they have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine. In 2021, Zuma was sentenced to a 15-month prison term after being found guilty of contempt of court.
Last week, the IEC upheld an objection to Zuma’s candidature, meaning he was disqualified from standing for Parliament after the upcoming national and provincial elections.
DEADLINE FOR OBJECTIONS IS TODAY
Today is the deadline for people to lodge applications against objections made against them at the Electoral Court.
The decision to omit Zuma was taken following the public candidate list inspection process, which took place last week.
“We are going to be appealing it; our attorneys are looking at it and have been looking at it. We are looking at the merit and will submit an appeal accordingly,” said Ndlela.
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