ZUMA TAKES FULL CONTROL OF MK PARTY

Former president Jacob Zuma (pictured) has taken full control of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), according to the Electoral Commission (IEC).

In December, Zuma announced that he would merely be voting and campaigning for the party, which at the time was led by its founder Jabulani Khumalo. Addressing a press briefing in Gauteng yesterday, IEC deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Shiburi said that while Khumalo was the original leader of the MKP, the party has since sent the IEC a notice informing them that Zuma was now the leader of the organisation.

“We can confirm that former president Jacob will be the face of the MK Party on the ballot,” he said.

The electoral body had resolved that Zuma, who in 2021 was sentenced by the Constitutional Court to 15 months in prison, was not eligible to be on the election candidate list. This was based on the fact that the Constitution did not allow people who have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of fine to stand as a candidate during elections.

However, the IEC’s decision to remove Zuma from the candidate list was overturned by the Electoral Court, which has yet to disclose the reasons for its order.

IEC chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo told reporters that the electoral body has since filed an application at the ConCourt to seek clarity on the Electoral Court’s order. “There is a need for clarity on a number of issues. Number one: Did the commission go beyond the scope of its authority? Does remission amount to the reduction of sentence as ordered by the court of law?” he said.

During the Electoral Court proceedings, Zuma’s lawyers had argued that given the fact that President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted Zuma a remission of sentence it would be unfair to say that his sentence was 15 months’ imprisonment.

Some of Zuma’s supporters threatened violence should the former president be barred from contesting the May 29 general elections.

However, Mamabolo said while the IEC was doing everything to ensure that the upcoming general elections were peaceful, security matters during elections were handled by the police. “The security agencies of the country are responsible for securing all of us,” he said.

The May general elections is likely to be the most challenging for the IEC, given that, amongst other things, it is the first time independent candidates are contesting general elections. Previously the IEC had only two ballots: one for the provincial legislatures and another for the national assembly. However, it now has to print a third for independent candidates.

Despite the challenges, Mamabolo said preparations for the general elections were now at an advanced stage. “The Electoral Commission reports that substantial progress has been made in preparation for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections (NPE2024). On April 12, the commission issued certificates to the 14 889 candidates who will contest 887 seats in the forthcoming elections. “The finalisation of the list of candidates contesting seats in the NPE2024 means that the commission can now go ahead with the printing of ballot papers for the elections. Over 95% of logistical supplies for election day are already at hand,” he said.