In a landmark ruling, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has barred former President Jacob Zuma from participating in the upcoming general election, scheduled for May 29.
The court’s decision, handed down on Monday, is likely to have significant implications for the election’s outcome and may spark unrest among Zuma’s supporters.
The ruling is based on Zuma’s 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court in 2021, which exceeds the 12-month threshold that disqualifies individuals from holding parliamentary seats, according to the constitution.
The court declared Zuma “not eligible to be a member of, and not qualified to stand for election to, the National Assembly.”
Zuma, who was forced to resign as president in 2018, has been campaigning for the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, a new political entity that poses a threat to the governing African National Congress (ANC), particularly in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where he maintains significant popularity.
The ANC’s majority is at risk after 30 years in power, and Zuma’s disqualification may further jeopardize its position.
