South Africa / Jacob Zuma strikes back: MK appeals against exclusion from elections

The political party “uMkhonto weSizwe” (MK), led by former President Jacob Zuma, has decided to appeal the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to remove Zuma from its list of candidates for the upcoming general elections.

The EC had confirmed last week an objection to Zuma’s candidacy, disqualifying him from running for legislative seats in the upcoming election scheduled for May 29.

On Tuesday, the deadline for Zuma and his party to appeal the decision before the electoral court, MK’s election officer, Musa Mkhize, stated that the party leader’s lawyers were finalizing their grounds for appeal.

«As far as we are concerned, nothing can stop the former president from contesting the elections. What we need to do is follow what is prescribed by the electoral court», he emphasized.

If the appeal is lodged, the Electoral Court has until April 9 to make a ruling. The Electoral Commission indicated that 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, Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court for refusing to testify before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

The former president has been at odds with the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), since he announced that he would not vote for the historic party and would campaign for his new party MK, created in December 2023.

Jacob Zuma, the MK party’s presidential candidate, was subsequently suspended by the ANC in January.

Stan OKAFOR