The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has come forward to defend Jacob Zuma’s eligibility to hold public office, despite a constitutional provision that excludes candidates who have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.
The party argues that Zuma’s sentence was remitted, rendering Section 47 of the constitution inapplicable to the former president.
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In response to the Electoral Commission’s decision to remove Zuma from its list of candidates, the MK party has filed papers at the electoral court to appeal this ruling.
In their appeal, the party highlights that Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court in 2021. However, he only served two months behind bars after being granted special remission by the Department of Correctional Services.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the spokesperson for the MK party, stated that their appeal is based on a matter of democratic principle.
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They firmly believe that the will of the people should prevail and that it was the people who wanted President Zuma to lead. Ndhlela emphasized that their actions are not driven by desperation but by a commitment to listening to the people.
The Electoral Court has until 9 April to make a ruling on the MK party’s appeal, as stated by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). This decision will determine whether Jacob Zuma can continue his pursuit of public office under the MK party’s banner.
 party defends Jacob Zuma's eligibility for public office, arguing that his sentence was remitted. They have filed an appeal to the Electoral Court to challenge the decision to remove Zuma from the list of candidates. The outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for the political landscape in South Africa.){kind=link}