Court victory allows Jacob Zuma to vie for presidency in upcoming South African election

Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, has been granted permission to participate in the upcoming general election set for May, as a result of a court decision overturning the ban on his candidacy.

Having been previously barred by the electoral commission last month due to a contempt of court conviction, Zuma, aged 81, is now eligible to run for office. The commission justified its decision by citing a constitutional clause that prohibits individuals convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison from holding public office.

Campaigning under the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, Zuma, a former prominent member of the African National Congress, served as the president from 2009 until 2018 when he resigned amidst corruption accusations.

In 2021, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his failure to testify in a corruption investigation, but only completed three months due to health reasons.

The judiciary decision regarding Zuma’s eligibility could significantly impact the outcome of the imminent election, where he stands as the prominent figure of the new MK party, named after the ANC’s former military branch.

Viewing himself as the rightful successor to the revolutionary foundations of the ANC, which was previously guided by Nelson Mandela, Zuma’s victory in court allows him to be the primary candidate for the MK party.

Unlike a direct vote for the president, South Africans elect members of the National Assembly. The leader of the party able to secure a majority in the Assembly is expected to become the country’s next leader, albeit another candidate could be put forth as well.

This court ruling is also a setback for the ruling ANC, which, after three decades in power, faces a potentially challenging election. Several surveys suggest that, for the first time since 1994, the ANC’s vote share might dip below 50%.

Reported as being popular in Zuma’s native KwaZulu-Natal region, the MK party is poised as a formidable contender in the upcoming election.