IEC to seek legal advice on court order validating Zuma's election candidacy

JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission (IEC) says it will seek legal advice on the latest court order in favour of former president, Jacob Zuma.

The Electoral Court on Tuesday ordered that the IEC's decision barring Zuma from being a candidate on the MK Party list be set aside.

This means the former president is eligible to return to Parliament.

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The IEC argued that Section 47 1E of the Constitution does not allow Zuma to be a member of Parliament because of his 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court.

While the Electoral Court ruled in Zuma's favour, saying the objection against his candidacy ought to have been dismissed, only a brief order was handed down, with no reasons for their ruling.

In a statement, the IEC noted this and the court’s decision but said in order to understand the basis of the conclusions, it was important that the reasons were provided.

The commission said it would request that the Electoral Court hand down reasons for the order made.