Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been given the green light to participate in May’s general election following an electoral court’s decision to reverse a ban on his candidacy.
The electoral commission had previously barred him due to a contempt of court conviction, arguing that the constitution prohibits individuals convicted of a crime and sentenced to over 12 months in prison from holding public office.
Zuma, 81, has been actively campaigning for the newly established uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party.
A prominent figure in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and a former president from 2009 to 2018, Zuma’s tenure was marked by corruption allegations that eventually led to his resignation.
Although he was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2021 for failing to cooperate in a corruption investigation, he served only three months due to health reasons.
His court victory now allows him to run as the leading candidate for the MK party, which he views as a continuation of the ANC’s revolutionary legacy.
The ruling has significant implications for the upcoming election, potentially affecting its outcome. South Africans vote for members of the National Assembly, and the party that secures a majority typically nominates the country’s leader.
Zuma’s candidacy under the MK banner adds a new dynamic to the political landscape, impacting both the ANC’s prospects and the overall electoral landscape.
Source-BBC
