Constitutional Court asks for written submissions on the Electoral Commissioner Janet Love's biases
This as it mulls the IEC’s appeal against the Electoral Court’s ruling on Zuma’s eligibility to run for public office in the upcoming elections.
The Constitutional Court is on 8 May 2024 hearing an urgent application by the Labour Party and two other parties for leave to appeal a judgment by the Electoral Court. Picture: Nokukhanya Mntambo/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Constitutional Court has asked for written submissions from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the MK Party and former president Jacob Zuma on allegedly biased comments made by Electoral Commissioner Janet Love.
This as it mulls the IEC’s appeal against the Electoral Court’s ruling on Zuma’s eligibility to run for public office in the upcoming elections.
During a press conference in January Love pronounced that Zuma would not be eligible to be a candidate on the MK Party’s parliamentary list because he had been sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt in 2021.
The appeal was heard on Friday, with judgment reserved.
The Electoral Court ultimately found that Zuma was eligible however, it rejected arguments put up by him and MK to the effect that Love’s comments suggested bias on her part.
In court last week, though, Zuma and MK’s legal team continued with the argument.
On Monday, the Constitutional Court issued directions asking the parties involved for submissions on the comments.
The bench wants to know among other things if Love ought not to have recused herself when it came time for the IEC to make a call on the matter.
They have until Tuesday to file their submissions.