IEC on MK Party’s request for its commissioner to resign: ‘No substantive reason’
The calls come after she answered a question during a media briefing, saying Jacob Zuma was not eligible to stand for elections due to his criminal record.
FILE: A voter registration banner outside a voting station. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has rejected a request by uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, saying there is no "substantive reason" for its commissioner Janet Love to resign.
The MK Party has been calling for Love’s head accusing her of bias.
The calls come after she answered a question during a media briefing, saying Jacob Zuma was not eligible to stand for elections due to his criminal record.
The Electoral Court has since ruled Zuma is eligible to contest the polls, with the IEC now challenging the decision.
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On 25 January, IEC Commissioner Janet Love responded to a question from a journalist during a media briefing regarding Zuma’s eligibility to stand for elections.
The MK Party said Love had pre-judged the situation because at the time, the objection process for candidates had not been opened yet.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, IEC Commissioner Sy Mamabolo said Love had not shown any bias towards Zuma or the MK Party.
“Absent any substantive evidential material establishing misconduct on the side of commissioner then there would be no basis for such a resignation.”
The Electoral Court is yet to release the reasons for its decision to set aside the IEC’s decision to prevent Zuma from contesting in the upcoming elections.