Jacob Zuma, South Africa's ex-President, disqualified from contesting upcoming elections | Know why

As South Africa braces itself for an intense election, the country’s highest court barred former President Jacob Zuma from contesting the upcoming polls. The court on Monday said that Zuma’s name won’t appear on the ballot in the upcoming elections, a ruling that may deepen political turmoil in the country.

The Constitution Court stated that Zuma could not stand as a candidate for the May 29 polls because of a criminal conviction. The decision came just days after a special electoral court overturned the restriction.

It is pertinent to note that the constitution of South Africa prohibits a person from contesting in parliamentary elections if he or she was given a prison sentence of 12 months.

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The fall of Zuma

The erstwhile leader of the African National Congress resigned from the presidency in 2018 amid a nationwide protest. Three years later, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison after he failed to appear at a corruption inquiry.

In what was touted as a political comeback, Zuma was campaigning for the upcoming elections with the support of a new party called uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK). The party was named after the ANC’s formed armed wing.

“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 constitutional court said on Monday in its ruling.

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Zuma’s arrest in 2021, triggered major riots in KwaZulu-Natal in which more than 300 people died.

Why it matters?

Zuma’s attempted political comeback was seen as one of the biggest tests for South Africa’s fledgling democracy. It is important to note that with the 2021 conviction, Zuma became the first former president to serve prison time.

Zuma was also released on medical parole just two months into his 15-month-long prison sentence. While the Constitutional Court overturned his medical parole Zuma eventually received a presidential pardon from his successor and current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

With the Monday decision, Justice Leona Theron made it clear that Zuma is “ineligible and not qualified” to stand for election until five years after the completion of his sentence.

Founded in December last year, Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK has quickly moved to become one of the most visible opposition to ANC. Polls also reflected ANC’s declining popularity. It is important to note that South Africans vote for a party instead of an individual. However, MK was hoping Zuma’s face would be crucial to attract voters to the relatively new party.

With inputs from agencies.