Top Court Bars Jacob Zuma from Election Bid
South Africa’s highest court made a significant decision on Monday regarding former president Jacob Zuma’s candidacy for parliament in the upcoming election, a decision that carries considerable weight in shaping the election’s outcome.
Zuma, who stepped down as president in 2018 under pressure, has since distanced himself from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and has been actively involved in the campaign for a new political entity called uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), named after the ANC’s former military wing.
Recent polls indicate that the ANC’s long-standing majority is under threat after three decades in power, with MK posing a particular challenge, especially in Zuma’s stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal, where he enjoys considerable popularity.
The constitutional court’s involvement arises from the electoral commission’s decision in March to disqualify Zuma, citing a constitutional provision barring individuals sentenced to prison terms of 12 months or more from holding parliamentary office.
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Zuma received a 15-month jail sentence in 2021 for contempt of court related to his non-appearance at a corruption inquiry.
However, in April, a separate court overturned the disqualification, arguing that the constitutional provision applied solely to individuals with the opportunity to appeal their sentences, which was not the case for Zuma at the time.
Subsequently, the electoral commission challenged this ruling in the constitutional court, leading to the recent decision.
The constitutional court’s ruling on Monday affirmed that Zuma’s conviction and subsequent sentence exceeding 12 months disqualify him from parliamentary membership or candidacy for the National Assembly.
Zuma’s imprisonment in 2021 sparked widespread unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in over 300 fatalities and escalating into widespread looting incidents.
Top Court Bars Jacob Zuma from Election Bid