By Sihle Mavuso
The Constitutional Court has set 10 May as the date to hear the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) application on former president Jacob Zuma’s eligibility for a parliamentary seat.
This is contained in a directive sent to all parties late yesterday, and it looks likely that judgment on the matter will be handed down before the 29 May elections.
The highest court in the land said Zuma, the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party, and other respondents who may wish to oppose the application have until Friday, 3 May to file their opposing papers.
The IEC will then have until Monday, 6 May to respond. If Zuma and the MK party wish to respond further, they must do so by Wednesday, 8 May.
The application is proceeding after the Electoral Court gave its reasons for deciding in favour of Zuma’s inclusion on the ballot and eligibility for a seat in Parliament late last week.
The court said Zuma’s June 2021 conviction for contempt of the Constitutional Court was a constitutional complaint sentence and he could not appeal it.
The IEC now wants clarity on the matter – hence its urgent application to the apex court.
Meanwhile, MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela has revealed that the IEC has written to the party, asking it to remove Bonginkosi Khanyile and Visvin Reddy from their parliamentary lists.
Ndlela did not specify the electoral body’s reasons for its decision, or say how it would respond.
Pictured above: Former president Jacob Zuma’s matter will be heard next week.
Source: Sihle Mavuso
