For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: IEC appeals Electoral Court’s Zuma judgment; MK Party calls for IEC commissioner’s resignation, threatens legal action; And, Calls for Nzimande to resign amid NSFAS ‘crisis’

IEC appeals Electoral Court’s Zuma judgment

The Independent Electoral Commission said today it has approached the Constitutional Court to appeal the Electoral Court’s judgment which saw former President Jacob Zuma win his appeal against the IEC’s decision to exclude him from being able to stand as an uMkhonto weSizwe Party parliamentary candidate.

The IEC argued against Zuma’s eligibility to stand as a candidate owing to his 15-month prison sentence for being in contempt of court, in 2021.

The IEC wants the matter of the latest appeal finalised before the May 29 election.

The IEC stressed that its court action did not mean it was trying to become politically involved but rather to ensure that constitutional rules were upheld and understood for a free and fair election.

MK Party calls for IEC commissioner’s resignation, threatens legal action

Meanwhile, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party wants the immediate resignation of IEC commissioner Janet Love, warning that should she fail to resign in the next 7 days, the party will pursue “all available avenues”  to remove her, including approaching the courts.

The party accused Love of being “highly vested” in the outcomes of the May 29 elections, saying she cannot be trusted.

The MK Party said its recent win at the Electoral Court underscored a defeat against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress.

The MK Party said the recent judgement also showed Love’s so-called “prejudicial conduct” as commissioner.

The MK Party justified its call for Love’s removal by noting her so-called “obnoxious behaviour” in January, before an objection was lodged regarding the eligibility of Zuma to participate in the Parliamentary elections.

And, Calls for Nzimande to resign amid NSFAS ‘crisis’

In light of the resignation of National Student Financial Aid Scheme chair Ernest Khosa and the dissolvement of the NSFAS board, the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA are calling for the immediate resignation of Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande.

Nzimande announced Khosa's resignation yesterday during a media briefing where he set out steps to address the recurring problem of nonpayment of student allowances by the scheme, which he said “impacted negatively” on the wellbeing of students and the continued functioning of the higher education system.

In January, Khosa took a leave of absence to enable the board to deal with allegations against him made by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, accusing him and Nzimande of defrauding NSFAS through kickbacks from service providers.

The DA said Nzimande cannot be “absolved from actions of the board” since he has defended the decisions of the board on numerous occasions.

ActionSA highlighted that in recognition of this so-called “injustice”, the party’s Students Chapter would embark on a march to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum calling for the immediate removal of Nzimande.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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