South Africa’s Ex-President Zuma disqualified from Contesting For Election

Former South African President Jacob Zuma cannot run for parliament in this month’s election, the country’s Constitutional Court ruled on Monday.

This decision could impact the election outcome and provoke unrest from Zuma’s supporters.

The court ruled that Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualifies him from standing for the May 29 election. The constitution prohibits anyone with a prison sentence of 12 months or longer from holding a parliamentary seat.

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, the ruling stated.

Zuma, who resigned as president in 2018, has since formed a new party called uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), named after the ANC’s former armed wing.

MK’s secretary-general, Sihle Ngubane, said the judgment would not affect their campaign and that the party’s leadership would seek guidance from Zuma on the way forward.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the court’s decision on Zuma would not lead to violence.

We have a rule of law in South Africa that governs us,” the president said. “Once a constitutional court has decided, that is it and should there be any threat of violence, our security forces are ready, he told local radio station 702.

In 2021, Zuma’s imprisonment led to riots in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in over 300 deaths and widespread looting.

The electoral commission initially disqualified Zuma in March, but a lower court overturned this decision, citing constitutional provisions. The commission then appealed to the Constitutional Court, which upheld the original disqualification.

Despite the ruling, Zuma’s photograph will remain on the ballot as he is the registered leader of MK, but his name will be removed from the list of parliamentary candidates.

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