Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been barred from participating in the upcoming general election by the nation’s highest court.
The Constitutional Court’s decision stemmed from Zuma’s 15-month jail term for contempt of court, a violation under South African law that rendered him ineligible to stand for parliament.
Zuma’s conviction in 2021 was linked to his refusal to testify at an inquiry probing corruption during his presidency, which concluded in 2018.
Despite his disqualification, Zuma had been actively campaigning under the banner of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, following his fallout with the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
In response to the ruling, MK’s secretary general, Sihle Ngubane, expressed disappointment but affirmed that Zuma’s leadership role within the party would persist. Ngubane reassured that the judgment wouldn’t hamper their campaign efforts, asserting that Zuma’s image would still feature on ballot papers for the May 29 election.
South African voters select political parties, with the top candidates on each party’s list securing parliamentary seats based on the party’s vote share.
The electoral commission confirmed that Zuma’s name would be struck from MK’s list of parliamentary candidates while clarifying that his image would continue to appear on ballot papers alongside his party’s logo.
