Newly formed Umkhonto Wesizwe political party celebrated yet another victory recently when the Electoral Court dismissed the IEC’s ruling that excluded former president Jacob Zuma from the list of candidates who will be running at this year’s elections, representing the party in parliament as their presidential candigate.
The IEC had centred its decision to exclude the former president on the constitutional legislation which stipulates that, “Any person who was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine cannot stand in an election.”
Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court, after failing to appear before a corruption inquiry earlier in 2021. He was later released on medical parole in September the same year, just two months after he handed himself in.
Msholozi’s legal team led by senior advocate Dali Mpofu argued the decision for the IEC to take a parliament matter into their own hands, adding that even the 15 months sentence that the former president did not even finish 12 months of the 15 months he was sentenced to as he stayed for less than three months.
Addressing a crowd of MK party members after the court proceeds outside the Gauteng High Court where the matter was held, Msholozi, who was rushing to the airport shared:
“I don’t know how our country has turned. The IEC’s job is to prepare for elections, then wait to see which party is comes out victorious and announce it. That’s where it’s job ends.”
He continued, “I don’t know why they took the parliament’s job because it’s not theirs. Theirs is to count votes and then announce which party won, that’s it.”
After the verdict, internet users had these funny comments to say:
Dreaming is nice but ke
— Minister of Minds (@Kwanele_RSA) April 10, 2024
One user who does not believe the MK has the power to win the elections said:
Remember COPE speed fire vanished to thin air, standing with 1 seat in parliament. Who’ll vote for Duduzile Zuma to parliament?.
— LethuTshoga_ (@thapelotshoga) April 9, 2024
Another user added:
Sister mbalula must ask for some private classes here
— Vuyo Mhlongo (@Luvuyo_Mgabhi99) April 9, 2024
Also see: ‘ANC is not going to lose its majority on 29 May’ – Cyril Ramaphosa
