The Constitutional Court has ruled against an Electoral Commission order paving the way for former president Jacob Zuma to remain on the newly formed Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party's candidate list ahead of the May 2024 vote. The court issued instructions to file an appeal.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the respondents opposing the application to file reply affidavits by Thursday, April 25, 2024.
The country's highest court added that further directions may be issued.
The Electoral Tribunal recently granted Zuma's appeal and further annulled the IEC's March decision to uphold the former president's challenge to his candidacy under Article 47(1)(e) of the Constitution.
The IEC's March decision to uphold the challenge to Zuma's candidacy was based on the Supreme Court's finding of him in contempt of court and his subsequent 15-month prison sentence in 2021. The court has not yet revealed the reasons behind the decision to set aside the decision. .
The IEC has upheld the March decision and filed papers with the Constitutional Court earlier this month requesting an emergency hearing.
The Committee considers that it is in the public interest to have finality and clarity on section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution before the vote is taken to avoid tainting the election and its results. He argued that it was in the interests of justice. IEC's appeal succeeds.