By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Constitutional Court has issued directives asking for written submissions on alleged bias by Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Commissioner Janet Love.
The apex court has asked the IEC, uMkhonto we Sizwe Political Party (MKP), and its leader Jacob Zuma to file written submissions by Tuesday, 17:00 pm on the statement by Love where she expressed a legal position in response to a question about former president’s eligibility.
The MK Party and Zuma have previously argued that Love ought to have recused herself from the IEC’s determination of Zuma’s eligibility and further alleged bias on her part.
Last month, the Electoral Court ruled that Zuma would appear on the ballot for the provincial and national elections scheduled for May 29.
The court’s decision was based on the fact that Zuma could not appeal the judgment of the apex court, which sentenced him to jail.
In 2021, the ConCourt convicted Zuma of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15 months in prison without an option of a fine for allegations of State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector.
Zuma served an effective three months of his 15-month prison sentence and was released on medical parole on September 5, 2021, by the National Commissioner of Correctional Services.
He served his sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
On Friday, the ConCourt heard submissions on the IEC’s appeal against the Electoral Court order which invalidated the IEC’s March decision to disqualify Zuma in terms of Section 47(1)(E) of the Constitution.
Judgement has been reserved.
The Constitutional Court is expected to bring finality to the correct interpretation of section 47 (1) (E) and effectively Zuma’s eligibility ahead of the May polls before any votes are cast.