Prior to the May 29th elections, former president Jacob Zuma has been declared ineligible to run as a party candidate.
On Thursday, the Independent Electoral Commission verified that it had received and upheld a complaint regarding Zuma’s candidacy.
On the newly established uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party list, the former president is the top contender.
He was declared the party’s presidential candidate, however section 47 of the Constitution states that a person guilty of a crime and condemned without the option of paying a fee cannot be elected to Parliament or the Legislature.
Only five years will pass before the candidate is eligible once more.
According to IEC Chair Mosotho Moepya, the commission did sustain a complaint lodged against Zuma.
“Yes, we did get an objection in the instance of former president Jacob Zuma, and it was upheld.
The objectors are being informed because the party that nominated him has been notified,” Moepya says.
But by April 2, 2024, he has the opportunity to challenge the commission’s ruling at the electoral court.
According to Moepya, the commission was notified of 82 concerns regarding the candidates put forward by 21 different political parties.
The eligibility requirements and qualifications for the national assembly and provincial legislatures are outlined in Sections 47 and 106 of the Constitution, respectively.
They stipulate that all eligible voters for the national assembly and/or provincial legislatures may run for office, with the following exceptions: those who have had a court of the Republic declare them to be mentally incompetent; unrehabilitated insolvents; and those who have been found guilty of a crime and sentenced to more than a year in jail without the possibility of a fine.
Five years after the sentence is served, this disqualification ends. Those who have not yet received a sentence or who have not yet used all of their appeal rights after receiving one are not covered by this second reason of disqualification,” the speaker stated.
According to Moepya, the commission upheld one objection and rejected those pertaining to seven candidates.
“The Commission can only operate within the boundaries of the law and the Constitution, according to Chairperson Mosotho Moepya. The objectors, candidates, and nominating parties have all received letters from the Commission informing them of its decisions.
By April 2, 2024, any objector, party, or candidate who feels wronged by the Commission’s decision may file an appeal with the Electoral Court.
The Commission will publish the lists of political parties and candidates that will be listed on the different ballot papers as the process of nominating candidates comes to an end.
According to Moepya, these lists will be released on April 10, 2024.
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