File: A Constitutional Court sitting.
JOHANNESBURG - The Constitutional Court has given former president Jacob Zuma and the MK Party until Thursday to file answering affidavits in a matter brought to the court by the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
The IEC approached the Apex Court after the Electoral Court gave Zuma the go ahead to take part in next month's general elections.
Initially, the IEC decided that Zuma could not contest the elections because he had been sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.
In terms of the Constitution, you can’t stand for elections if you have been convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months in jail.
But earlier this month the Electoral Court overruled the IEC's decision giving Zuma the green light to contest.
The reasons for the decision have not yet been given.
In its application, the IEC said the appeal is not intended to involve itself in the political field of play, but to ensure free and fair elections.