Former South African President Jacob Zuma has received clearance to participate in the upcoming general election slated for May, following a landmark decision by an electoral court to overturn the ban on his candidacy.
Last month, the electoral commission had barred Zuma from running due to a contempt of court conviction. The commission argued that the constitution prohibits individuals convicted of crimes and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison from holding public office.
Zuma, aged 81, has been actively campaigning for the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, presenting himself as the embodiment of the ANC’s revolutionary heritage, once championed by Nelson Mandela.
The court’s ruling not only allows Zuma to contest as the leading candidate for the MK party but also has significant implications for the outcome of the forthcoming election. In South Africa’s electoral system, citizens vote for members of the National Assembly, with the party commanding a majority likely to form the government.
This development poses a challenge to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power for three decades. Several opinion polls suggest that the ANC’s vote share could drop below 50 percent for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994.