South Africa’s Electoral Court has dismissed a petition by the African National Congress (ANC) party seeking to deregister MK party linked to former president Jacob Zuma.
In a ruling on Tuesday, March 26, the court said the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) acted within the prescribes of the law when registering the party.
Judge Lebogang Modiba ruled the ANC’s complaints lacked any merit, was not urgent and that the court did not have any jurisdiction to hear the case.
“We find there is nothing unlawful about registration of MK party by the deputy chief electoral officer,” said the court.
Modiba stated that ANC had no basis adding that it had failed on two occasions to challenge the registration of MK in 2023.
The judge explained that ANC application was brought beyond the prescribed time.
She said ANC should have instituted these court actions within three days of the MK party’s registrations.
“The ANC’s explanation is irrational because it does justify the delay. It is irrelevant it became aware of the letter in January 2024,” Judge Modiba said.
The ANC’s case was that the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (DCEO) Masego Sheburi, acted unlawfully when he registered the MK party.
However, Modiba reiterated that the DCEO complied with Section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act in registering MK.
In the case filed in January 2024, ANC argued that IEC was not supposed to register MK since e the party’s application was rejected.
Also Read: Uproar As South African TV Star is Kicked Out of a Plane
ANC Suspends Zuma
However, the IEC and MK party maintained that the application followed the required process and was regular.
MK added that ANC failed to oppose the party’s registration until Zuma said he was joining it.
ANC suspended Zuma, who is the MK party’s presidential candidate, in January 2024.
This was after he hinted at voting for the MK party in December 2023.
The former President has been campaigning for the MK party since the beginning of the year.
Document from the IEC shows that the party was registered on September 7, 2023, by one Jabulani Khumalo.
Also Read: Foreign Affairs PS Counters Gachagua Over Malema’s Attack on Ruto
South Africa Elections
South Africa will hold its general elections on May 29, 2024.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will battle it out with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) presidential candidate Julius Malema and Zouma.
He was elected as the president on February 15, 2018, after Zuma bowed to pressure and resigned.
Ramaphosa was reelected to as ANC party leader in December 2022, despite facing a financial scandal and a strong competition from his opponents within the party.
IEC closed the window for parties and independent candidates to submit their candidate nomination details to participate in the upcoming elections on March 8.
The Commission reported that 115 parties and 16 independent candidates made submissions to contest seats in the National Assembly.
