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South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been dealt a significant blow after the Constitutional Court ruled him ineligible to run for parliament in the upcoming May 29 election. The court’s decision is based on Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021, which disqualifies him from holding a parliamentary seat according to the country’s constitution.
The ruling is likely to increase political tension ahead of the pivotal vote, which could see the governing African National Congress (ANC) lose its majority after 30 years in power. Zuma, 82, who was forced to quit as president in 2018, has been campaigning for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party and remains popular in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Zuma’s jailing in 2021 triggered deadly riots in KZN, with more than 300 people killed and widespread looting reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to clamp down on any unrest, stating that the authorities are prepared to maintain law and order. “We have rule of law in South Africa that governs us. Once a Constitutional Court has decided, that is it, and should there be any threat of violence, our security forces are ready,” Ramaphosa said.
The court’s ruling is a significant development in South Africa’s political landscape, and its implications will be closely watched in the lead-up to the election.
