Freedom Under Law (FUL) requests fully motivated reasons from the electoral court as to why this court ruled on Tuesday that Jacob Zuma can be nominated for this year’s national and provincial elections.
Five judges of the Electoral Court, led by Judge Dumisani Zondi, indicated during the judgment on Tuesday that the reasons for their decision will follow later.
However, FUL now says the reasons for the judges’ decision should be provided to the public as soon as possible as the decision sets a precedent.
“The rule of law requires that courts give fully reasoned reasons for their decisions. It is therefore of critical importance for the credibility of the verdict and the confidence citizens have in the wider electoral process that reasons for the decision are provided quickly.”
The pressure group calls on the electoral court to urgently provide its reasons for its ruling.
RNews earlier reported that Zuma was found guilty on a charge of contempt of court in 2021 and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
The Electoral Commission (EC) then decided that Zuma, nowadays a member of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, may not participate as a candidate in this year’s elections as he has a certain criminal record.
Zuma then approached the electoral court where the former president’s legal team, led by adv. Dali Mpofu SC, insisted that Zuma’s sentence does not disqualify him.
