The Electoral Court has given a thumbs up to the IEC’s request to proceed with the vote rigging case that was filed by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party after the May 29 general and provincial elections, citing that there was new evidence that they wanted to add to their court papers. The party led by former President Jacob Zuma wanted the Electoral Court to declare the elections null and void, claiming irregularities during counting. 

TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL

The MK Pary temporarily withdrew their application to challenge the election results over a week ago. In their responding affidavit, IEC requested the Electoral Court to set down a hearing for the party to present evidence of irregularities in the elections. The commission requested their responding affidavit following the party’s withdrawal of their application to challenge the election results. At the time, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said that they initiated the application to challenge the conduct of the IEC to declare the national and provincial election results were in haste and violated the will of the people.

"We are of the firm view that the election results are not credible, free or fair. Our reasons, in part, which we will demonstrate in our pursuit to take the matter further, are the failure of the IEC to perform credible forensic audits of its election system. We have, however, also been advised by our legal counsel that there are procedural and technical issues that will be further brought to the fore to present such evidence before the application can be adjudicated upon by way of a new application to set aside the election results and the declaration thereof by the IEC," said Ndhlela.

THE VERDICT

Handing down the verdict, the Electoral Court sitting in Bloemfontein in the Free State said, "Be please to take notice that pursuant to the provisions of the Rules of this Court, the above-mentioned application has been set down for a virtual hearing on Monday, July 29, 2024, at 09:00. If the application is not to be proceeded with, kindly notify this office. Kindly acknowledge the receipt. "The MK Party said they will issue a statement later in response to the court ruling.