Zuma continuing fight to remain on ballot in upcoming polls in ConCourt
The IEC wants the apex court to appeal against the Electoral Court’s ruling overturning the commission’s decision to bar Zuma from running for public office due to his 15-month prison sentence in 2021.
Former President Jacob Zuma at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 20 March 2023. Picture: Rejoice Ndlovu/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - In the Constitutional Court, former President Jacob Zuma is continuing with his fight to remain on the ballot during the upcoming elections.
The court is hearing an application by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to appeal against an Electoral Court ruling that paved the way for Zuma to run for public office.
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The IEC disqualified Zuma from running on the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s ticket as a result of the 15-month prison sentence he received for contempt of court.
But the Electoral Court overturned the decision, effectively giving Zuma the greenlight to run for a seat in Parliament.
Friday’s proceedings have, however, kicked off with a counter-application.
Zuma and the MK Party want six justices to recuse themselves from the hearing, citing potential bias.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, for Zuma and the MK Party, made these submissions a short while ago, “It’s about a very simple issue and that is whether a reasonable litigant in the position of the MK Party and Mr Zuma would hold a reasonable apprehension of bias – that’s all.
“It’s got nothing to do with whether the justices are biased [or] whether the justices will indeed not bring an open mind, they probably will.”