Faith Nyasuguta
The South African Electoral Court has overturned the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) decision to bar former president Jacob Zuma from participating in the upcoming elections scheduled for May 29.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday afternoon, the court dismissed the IEC’s objection to Zuma’s candidacy, thereby reinstating his eligibility to contest the elections.
The court’s decision, a result of an appeal filed by Zuma’s legal team, Advocate Dali Mpofu, signifies a significant victory for the former president. The IEC had initially barred Zuma from standing as a parliamentary candidate due to his conviction for contempt of court and subsequent 15-month prison sentence in 2021.
However, Zuma’s defense argued that the IEC lacked the authority to disqualify him from the electoral race, emphasizing that he had not undergone a trial or plea regarding the contempt charges.
Zuma’s legal representatives contended that his incarceration stemmed from his refusal to comply with a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo Inquiry into state capture, rather than from a formal judicial process.
Despite being sentenced to 15 months in prison, Zuma only served three months before receiving remission from President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2023.
Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitob of the IEC defended the commission’s decision by citing section 47 of the South African Constitution, which prohibits lawbreakers from serving as lawmakers.
However, the court sided with Zuma’s argument, ultimately setting aside the IEC’s objection and reinstating his candidacy for the elections.
Jacob Zuma, a prominent figure in South African politics, defected from the African National Congress (ANC) and joined the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party in 2023. He had previously served as the president of the ANC from 2007 to 2017.
Despite his contentious tenure and legal challenges, Zuma remains a polarizing figure in South African politics, with his reinstated candidacy likely to spark further debate and controversy in the lead-up to the elections.
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