THE Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has clarified questions on faces that will be on the ballot papers during the National and Provincial elections in May.
The IEC was answering questions on two parties, the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
MK has fought to have former ANC leader Jacob Zuma as the face of its party, and the IFP has been seen campaigning using the face of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi instead of the current leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa.
IEC deputy CEO Masego Sheburi said during a media briefing in Tshwane on Tuesday, 16 April, that the MK party has notified them about the changes in leadership where Zuma is now the party president, replacing Jabulani Khumalo.
According to IEC, Khumalo registered the party in September 2023 and was known to be the MK leader until the court battle to have Zuma on the ballot papers.
Sheburi said they can confirm that the face of the party in the ballot paper, with respect to the MK, will be that of Zuma.
“Because the party has given us the notice that it has changed its leadership structure, Mr Khumalo is no longer the party leader, and Mr Zuma is the party leader.
“In respect to IFP, while the face of their campaign remains the late Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of the party is Mr Hlabisa. For that reason, the photograph of Mr Hlabisa will be on the ballot paper,” he said.
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Sheburi said the commission is only interested in the ballot paper, not in managing what the party put as the face of the campaign.
Speaking on the objection made against Zuma being on the ballot paper, Sheburi said the law says the commission must ensure that the people on the ballot papers or candidates for the legislatures are qualified as per the constitution.
“That's why the commission upheld the objection when an objection was made that one of the candidates was not qualified in terms of the constitution,” he said.
The commission CEO, Sy Mamabolo, further said another reason they have approached the Constitutional Court on the MK matter after the Electoral Court ruled against them was to appeal the order, not the judgment.
