Constitutional Court rules there is no urgency for the Umkhonto Wesizwe party's bid against the presidency

The Constitutional Court has ruled that there is no urgency for the Umkhonto Wesizwe party’s bid against the presidency to be heard in the highest court in the land.

On Friday, the court gave reasons for an order it delivered in July, denying direct access to the MK Party.

The party had approached the apex court to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and to appoint Firoz Cachalia as acting minister.

In July, the Constitutional Court delivered a brief order denying the party and its leader, former president Jacob Zuma, direct access, but it did not engage the merits of the matter.

Judge Steven Mathopo gave reasons for the court's verdict and said that the novelty and the importance of the issues raised favour that the matter be heard in the High Court.

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He also questioned why the party did not approach the High Court for interim relief, which may have halted the decisions by the president from coming into effect.

Last month, MK Party approached the High Court on an urgent basis in an attempt to halt the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry pending a hearing on the president’s decisions.

But the party incurred another legal blow with the court striking the matter off the roll for lack of urgency.