While the IEC has challenged the Electoral Court's decision to allow former president Jacob Zuma to contest the upcoming elections, the Constitutional Court must mitigate concerns about bias or conflicts of interest and ensure a fair and transparent assessment of the case.

As South Africa gears up for next month's general election, anticipation is mounting over who will take the reins of power, with eyes keenly set beyond the ANC. Amidst the excitement, the controversy surrounding former president Jacob Zuma's eligibility to run for Parliament adds another twist.

While the Electoral Court's ruling sparked a clash of legal titans, the IEC's urgent appeal to the Constitutional Court promises to be a battle of constitutional proportions.

"On any of the arguments that were made before it, the Electoral Court is wrong in law," the IEC has argued in its quest to overturn the decision of the Electoral Court that Zuma was eligible to stand in the election.

Ferial Haffajee argued in Daily Maverick, "The IEC should accept that the system in the Constitution has worked: the Electoral Court (created as a judicial appeal body to the IEC's decisions) has made its findings. Let's leave it there."

Unfortunately, the IEC is not backing down and is "unable to wait for an unknown period when the Electoral Court will give its reasons [for its decision]". The court has previously given reasons for its rulings after the election.

In the unreported case of The...