Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa refrained from commenting on former president Jacob Zuma’s recent Electoral Court victory, saying that it’s not his role to question judicial decisions.
The court overturned the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) decision to bar Zuma from the MK party’s parliamentary list due to his prison sentence.
Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of respecting the judiciary’s independence and accepting their judgments, The Citizen reported.
“It’s not given for me to be second-guessing what the judges of our country said. I leave the judges to make pronouncements, to make their judgements. For me, as head of state, it is to give credence to the fact that the independence of the judiciary must be respected,” he said.
[WATCH] ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa adddresses scores of ANC supporters at the ANC Free State Provincial #SiyanqobaRally at Phuthaditjhaba Stadium QwaQwa, Free State.
“Free State is the home of the African National Congress as that is where it was formed” #VoteANC… pic.twitter.com/lmokwvrDxd
— African National Congress (@MYANC) April 28, 2024
“When the judges issue their judgements, all of us must accept those judgements and if we have to appeal, we appeal on various reasons. I leave that to the judges’ interpretation and those who want to appeal will take it forward,” the report quoted Ramaphosa as saying during his Siyanqoba ANC rally at the Phuthaditjhaba Stadium in Qwaqwa, Free State, on Sunday.
The IEC has sought clarification from the Constitutional Court regarding the interpretation of relevant constitutional provisions.
Additionally, Zuma secured a victory against the ANC in a separate legal dispute over the use of the uMkhonto weSizwe name and logo by his party.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
