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Jacob Zuma not allowed to stand for election on May 29 – IEC

President Jacob Zuma will not be allowed to stand for election on May 29, the Independent Electoral Commission has decided.
Jacob Zuma not allowed to stand for election on May 29 – IEC Former President Jacob Zuma addresses supporters of the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party on 7 February 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / City Press / Tebogo Letsie)
Ferial Haffajee
By Ferial Haffajee
28 Mar 2024
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The IEC has sustained an objection to his candidature on the grounds that he has a criminal record with a sentence exceeding 15 months. Objections were lodged against eight candidates by different political parties; seven were refused, with the objection to Zuma the only one upheld, said the IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya.

Zuma can approach the Electoral Court to appeal this decision and the court must decide by April 9 so final lists can be published and then ballot papers printed for the May 29 election.

The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has received notification from the IEC and so has the party which objected to his candidacy. 

The outcome of the Electoral Court will not stop the ballot printing nor the election timetable said Moepye. This is because the image of the party will still be on the ballot paper and the party will still contest. 

The IEC deputy chairperson Janet Love said it was concerned by the violent utterances of certain party supporters threatening the elections. She said elections are a process owned by all and the integrity of the poll should therefore be protected by all. 

Commissioner Judge Dhaya Pillay recused herself from deciding on Zuma’s candidacy.  She was a Constitutional Court judge when Zuma was sentenced for being in contempt of court when he did not appear before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

Earlier this week, Daily Maverick's Velani Ludidi reported that Section 47 of the Constitution stipulates that you cannot be elected to Parliament if you have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to 12 months or more in prison. You only become eligible again five years after the end of the sentence.

In 2021, Zuma was convicted of being in contempt of court and handed a 15-month sentence for his refusal to testify before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which he established.

After being released on medical parole, the 81-year-old former president received a remission of sentence last year, for the remainder of the term.

Meanwhile, Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda wants another job...in parliament

Gwamanda is number three on the national list of candidates for the Al-Jamah party which he represents in Johannesburg.

The party currently has one seat in Parliament.

The IEC has consulted the Public Service Minister on his candidacy and it has advised the mayor can stand but will have to resign as mayor as elected.

If he leaves, the city will have to elect a sixth mayor since the 2021 local government elections.DM

Comments

Skinyela Mar 28, 2024, 06:59 PM

Since Zuma himself and the MK Party knew that he is not eligible to stand, but continued to field him anyway, I suspect that their aim is to cause noise and chaos... And possibly violent. Another angle is that they believe that Zuma supporters will not vote MK Party if Zuma is not the candidate. There are things that should be illegal, like misleading voters, because here we don't have just one issue, we have two. MK Party is misleading its supporters that Zuma qualifies to become an MP and also qualifies to be president again. All lies, because even if he qualified to be an MP he still would not have qualified to be president.

Kenneth FAKUDE Mar 28, 2024, 08:57 PM

He will be the victim as he usually does when the law is against him and believe me there is thousands of supporters waiting to swallow the lies. This has the potential of an aggressive and chaotic response from supporters you would swear have a brain malfunction.

Skinyela Mar 29, 2024, 06:33 AM

Well, society still has a long way to go on that front, look how a significant number of people still fall for forex and crypto scams, as well as charismatic churches(AKA Cults)

Greeff Kotzé Mar 29, 2024, 02:29 PM

That's exactly it. Even if he was allowed to remain on their list, he would not have been compelled to follow through and become an MP after the elections, it's entirely voluntary. Parties skip inducting people on their parliamentary lists all the time, for various reasons. MK's plan was never to actually send him to Parliament. He wouldn't have gone anyway, unless he was guaranteed to be president again, but that would not happen either, and anyone with an ounce of realism in their thinking (even the people in MK) knows that. But there's all kinds of benefits for them to have pretended that this was the plan. I wish the media could stop feeding the beast, but they just can't help themselves.

dezzyray.doorma Mar 28, 2024, 08:37 PM

another phoenix is coming

dalamba127 Mar 29, 2024, 09:22 AM

I suspect the Joburg mayor will do less damage while snoring gently during parliamentary proceedings. Anything to get him out of our city!

Geoff Coles Mar 30, 2024, 10:15 AM

I wonder whether he knows where Cape Town is?

rkeenemail Mar 31, 2024, 05:05 AM

In the same vein, he is similarly vague on where and what Johannesburg is?

Les Thorpe Mar 29, 2024, 09:56 AM

Can't wait for the riots and mayhem. Prepare to go shopping for a new 100 inch TV and double door fridge for free.

loammitruter Mar 29, 2024, 02:16 PM

The MK party knew he was inelligible when the put him on top of the list and will be milking the fact that he was thrown off the list all they can while being silently grateful that they won't have to put up with him in their ranks in parliament post election. Its actually quite a clever ploy to get themselves on the front pages for weeks and draw thousands of sympathy and indignation votes away from EFF and the ANC without spending a penny. Well played, whoever came up with the idea. The whole thing is actually a win for the non-RET parties who would not have gotten votes from the ANC, MK and EFF voter pool anyway. The more votes the RET B-listers (MK and EFF) take away from the ANC the better. Divide and conquer. Even better when the enemy sommer divide themselves ?. Books will be written about this election, I suspect.

heartsoul.jc Mar 30, 2024, 06:11 AM

Thank you for the article on the upcoming elections. Would it be possible to publish a list of the candidates standing for the next elections with a copy of their manifesto's. I know that this most probably the responsibility of the IEC but it would be great to read more about the candidates so that we can educate ourselves about the potential candidates that we, the South African population who subscribe to your publication can consider.

Geoff Coles Mar 30, 2024, 10:12 AM

The only solution.

raffylal Mar 30, 2024, 09:05 PM

Just the thought of the same incompetent and haphazard mayor of joburg being in that circus called parly, to help make law binding decisions, leaves Mr with really bad stomach cramps, this person has shown that sometimes being in a small party ,yet being given a huge responsibility, is the most foolish choice ever one can make

Middle aged Mike Apr 1, 2024, 07:21 PM

Democracy has been utterly wasted on South Africa's electorate. It's sad and pathetic what a hash we have made of it. The number of children born since the advent of democracy who will die in abject poverty will most likely exceed the number the Nats would have wished for in their most fevered dreams.

District Six Apr 4, 2024, 06:02 PM

What an utterly despicable, unconscionable man!