The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has sparked controversy by insisting that Jacob Zuma, despite being an ex-convict, will still go to parliament and stand as their presidential candidate.
Zuma, the former state president, has become the face of the MK party, with his name appearing first on their national list. However, laws in South Africa prevent ex-convicts from being public representatives, raising questions about the legality of Zuma’s candidacy.
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MK party chairperson, Jabulani Khumalo, vehemently supports Zuma’s bid for the presidency, claiming that there is no case against him. Khumalo argues that the media has been trying to put Zuma in jail for over 21 years but has failed, asserting that Zuma is a straightforward man.
Despite the party’s confidence in Zuma’s candidacy, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has made it clear that ex-convicts are not eligible to stand for election.
Janet Love, a commissioner of the IEC, recently emphasized that the commission is guided by the laws of the country when determining the eligibility of candidates.
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According to Love, anyone who has been sentenced to more than 12 months of imprisonment without the option of a fine and has served the maximum two terms as state president is not eligible to stand for election. Therefore, Zuma’s candidacy would be impeded by the laws of the country.
The controversy surrounding Zuma’s candidacy raises important questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the adherence to legal requirements. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved and whether Zuma will indeed be allowed to take his place in parliament as the MK party’s presidential candidate.
