In a new development, South Africa’s highest court delivered a verdict on Monday, declaring former President Jacob Zuma ineligible to participate in the upcoming general election.
Justice Leone Theron emphasized that Zuma’s disqualification stems from the constitutional provision barring individuals sentenced to over 12 months in prison from running for parliamentary office.
In her ruling, Theron unequivocally stated, “Mr. Zuma’s conviction and sentence of more than 12 months’ imprisonment render him ineligible for membership in, and candidacy for, the National Assembly.”
Zuma had been found guilty of contempt of court in a 2021 case, following his departure from the presidency in 2018. Although initially handed a 15-month sentence, he served less than three months. However, the court dismissed arguments regarding his early release.
The court’s decision has triggered unrest among Zuma’s supporters, casting the upcoming May 29 election as one of the most fiercely contested since the inception of post-apartheid democracy in 1994.