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South Africa’s highest court ruled Monday May 20, 2024 that former president Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run for parliament in this month’s election, a decision that could significantly impact the political landscape.
Zuma, who was compelled to resign as president in 2018, has since distanced himself from the governing African National Congress (ANC). He has been campaigning for a new party named uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), after the ANC’s former armed wing.
The constitutional court case arose from a March decision by South Africa’s electoral commission to disqualify Zuma, citing the constitution’s prohibition against anyone with a prison sentence of 12 months or longer from holding a parliamentary seat. In 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court after failing to appear at a corruption inquiry.
In April, a lower court overturned Zuma’s disqualification, arguing that the constitutional provision applied only to individuals who had the opportunity to appeal their sentences, which was not the case for Zuma. However, the electoral commission contested this decision, bringing the matter to the constitutional court.
The constitutional court’s ruling stated, “It is declared that Mr. Zuma was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment, … and is accordingly not eligible to be a member of, and not qualified to stand for election to, the National Assembly.”
Zuma’s 2021 imprisonment sparked widespread riots in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in over 300 deaths and escalating into a broader wave of looting and unrest.
This latest ruling reaffirms Zuma’s ineligibility to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, shaping the future political dynamics in South Africa.
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