Cape Town – The Constitutional Court has instructed the MK party and former president Jacob Zuma to file their opposing papers by Thursday regarding the IEC’s application to appeal the Electoral Court’s judgment allowing Zuma to stand as a candidate in the elections.
The IEC initially rejected Zuma’s candidacy due to his conviction and prison sentence, but the Electoral Court ruled in favour of the MK party’s appeal.
According to IOL, the Constitutional Court seeks clarity on the interpretation of the law and has issued directions for further proceedings.
Zuma has been included on the ballot paper as a leader of the MK party since the Electoral Court’s decision.
South Africa is to hold general elections on May 29 in what is expected to be the most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in 1994.
Zuma’s ability to stand for office could prove a key factor, according to AFP.
Banking on his popularity, MK is expected to cut well into the vote share of the already embattled ruling African National Congress (ANC) — the ex-president’s former political home.
This could precipitate the ANC towards its worst result in three decades, seeing it drop below 50 percent of the vote.
Short of a parliamentary majority, it would be forced to seek coalition partners to remain in power.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
