IEC Requests Reasons Behind Order Allowing Jacob Zuma to Contest General Election

• The IEC will request the Electoral Court to provide reasons behind its order to set aside the commission's decision to remove Jacob Zuma from the MK Party's candidate list
• The commission said it would also seek legal advice on the matter despite acknowledging the court's judgment
• Many South Africans believe the IEC should focus on the upcoming General Election and not political party matters

Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered politics and current affairs on the radio for over 15 years.

The IEC will ask the Electoral Court for the reasons behind its verdict to allow Jacob Zuma to run in the 29 May 2024 General Election.

IEC seeks clarity on the Electoral Court's ruling

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In a statement, the commission did, however, acknowledge the court's judgment.

According to EWN, the IEC also plans to seek legal advice on the court's ruling.

The court set aside the IEC's decision to disqualify Zuma from the MK Party's candidate list.

The commission had disqualified Msholozi from running due to his 15-month jail sentence, which was handed down in 2021.

The Electoral Court heard the MK Party's appeal against removing Zuma from its list on 8 April 2024, and the court ruled in the party's favour a day later.

Citizens urge IEC to focus on the Election

After the IEC released its statement, many netizens advised it to focus on the upcoming General Election and not conduct itself like a political party.

@Remiazania1

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“Your main focus should be on ensuring that the elections are run smoothly & are conducted in a fair & transparent manner. Let the voters decide on the issue of President Zuma & MK Party through the ballot box.”

@Msifundo1984

“I lost all respect for this IEC (Political Party) of the ANC! I am certain that IEC will rig the elections in favour of ANC!”

@Ntuli_Lindo_

“If the IEC appeals the order of the Electoral Court it would have effectively confirmed its bias and become a player in the space where it should be the referee.”

@SiyaMfundisi

“Stop it, you failed; stop acting like a political party, it's not your job to run around courts to try and disqualify people.”

@BQ_Kunene

“You are not a political party, you sound like an ANC alliance partner now.”

Jacob Zuma wants to finish what he started

Briefly News recently reported that former President Jacob Zuma said he's prepared to return to rule South Africa if the majority wants him back in office.

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Zuma maintained that the country was a democracy and that if he were voted in as president by a two-thirds majority, he would return to finish what he had started.

The former leader added that he may return to the presidency as he was removed from office before completing his second term.

Source: Briefly News