IEC still seeking clarity on Electoral Court's Zuma candidature judgment

JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission (IEC) said it was still seeking clarity on why the Electoral Court ordered it to include Jacob Zuma on the ballot papers.

The IEC had initially upheld an objection to Zuma’s candidature, however, that decision was reversed by the Electoral Court last week.

While the Electoral Court is yet to produce a reason for the judgment, the IEC has approached the Constitutional Court to appeal the order.

Chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, said the order had wide-ranging implications on the work of the IEC that goes beyond Zuma.

"Did the commission go beyond its scope of authority in invoking Section 47 1E? We have no clarity as a country on this issue. Did Commissioner love pre-judge the issue to the extent that she ought to have recused herself? We don’t know. Whether the statement she made in response to a media question did in fact constitute prejudging the issue. Does remission of sentence amount to the reduction of sentence as ordered by the court of law? We don’t know."