South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma is barred from running for parliament in this month’s election, the country’s top court ruled on Monday, a judgment that could influence the outcome and trigger unrest from Zuma’s supporters.
South Africa’s ex-president Jacob Zuma has been barred from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections by the country’s highest court ruling on Monday.
The ruling stated that Zuma’s 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualifies him from running in the May 29 election as the constitution bars individuals sentenced to more than 12 months in prison from holding a parliamentary position. Zuma, who resigned as president in 2018, has clashed with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and is now backing a new party named uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
Despite the court ruling, MK’s secretary-general indicated that it would not impact their campaign and that the party would seek guidance from Zuma on the next steps.
Recent polls suggest that the ANC’s longstanding majority is under threat, with MK posing a challenge, particularly in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where he retains significant support. The imprisonment of Zuma in 2021 led to violent protests in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in over 300 fatalities and sparking widespread looting.
