Zuma, the former leader of South Africa, is not permitted to run for office

The top court of South Africa decided on Monday that former president Jacob Zuma cannot run for parliament in this month’s election. This decision could affect the result and incite discontent among Zuma’s followers.

Given that the constitution forbids anyone serving a sentence of 12 months or more in prison from holding a parliamentary seat, the constitutional court determined that Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 prevented him from standing in the May 29 election.

“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 verdict stated.

After being forced to resign from office in 2018, Zuma ran for president of the newly created uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, which was inspired by the ANC’s armed wing. Zuma has had disagreements with the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

According to opinion polls, the ANC’s majority may be in jeopardy after 30 years in power, and MK poses a threat to it, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s home province.

More over 300 people died in riots in KwaZulu-Natal in 2021 as a result of Zuma’s imprisonment, which also led to widespread looting.

During an interview with local radio station 702, President Cyril Ramaphosa was asked about the possibility of violence following the constitutional court verdict. He responded, “I’m not concerned about this instigating violence.”

“In South Africa, the rule of law is the supreme authority. He declared, “Once a constitutional court makes a decision, that’s it. Our security forces are prepared in case there is any threat of violence.”

Zuma was first declared ineligible by the South African Electoral Commission in March. However, a court reversed the decision a month later, stating that the relevant constitutional provision only applied to those who were given the opportunity to appeal their sentences—a situation Zuma was not.

The constitutional court was then consulted by the electoral commission. It had previously stated that because Zuma is the MK party’s registered leader, his face will still appear on ballots this month even if he is barred from serving as a member of parliament.

Support for MK was estimated to be under 8% in an April Ipsos opinion poll, compared to little over 40% for the ANC.

Even while the ANC is still expected to win the most votes, if it receives less than 50% of the vote, it will need to look for one or more coalition partners in order to form government. This will be the first time the party has formed such an alliance since the party was led by the liberation hero Nelson Mandela to power at the end of apartheid.

Thousands of fans gathered in a stadium in Soweto, the largest township in South Africa, for a campaign rally for Zuma’s MK party on Saturday heard him promise to create employment and offer free education to underprivileged children.