South Africa’s top court bars Zuma from serving as legislator

The highest court in South Africa has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run for parliament in the general election that takes place next week.

His 15-month prison term for contempt of court rendered him ineligible, according to the Constitutional Court.

For declining to appear in person during a probe into allegations of corruption during his presidency, which ended in 2018, Mr. Zuma was found guilty in 2021.

Following a rift with the ruling African National Congress (ANC), he has been running under the banner of the recently established uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

Although the MK secretary general, Sihle Ngubane, expressed disappointment with the decision, the party maintained it would not let it impact their campaign.

“He is still the leader of the party. It [the judgment] doesn’t affect our campaign at all,” he said.

Mr. Ngubane continued, “Mr. Zuma’s face would remain on the ballot paper for the 29 May election.”

Voters in South Africa select political parties, and based on the total number of votes the party receives, the candidates at the top of their lists are awarded parliamentary seats.

While some MK members were inside the courtroom wearing traditional Zulu regalia, others were outside singing and dancing while the verdict was being delivered.

Mr. Zuma hasn’t yet responded to the decision.

South African President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa said he “noted” the decision on a local radio station.

“The court has ruled, and as I have often said, that is the highest court in the land and we have given the judiciary the right to arbitrate disputes amongst us in terms of our constitution,” he said in an interview with 702.

The possibility that the ANC may lose its legislative majority for the first time since apartheid ended thirty years ago has been highlighted by MK’s rise.

Formerly fighting apartheid, the ANC’s armed branch was known by the moniker uMkhonto we Sizwe. (BBC)

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