Faith Nyasuguta
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the country’s election management body, announced on Thursday that it has upheld an objection against former president Jacob Zuma’s candidacy in the upcoming elections.
During a media briefing, IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya revealed that they received 82 objections concerning candidates nominated by 21 political parties for the 2024 national and provincial elections.
“In the case of former president Zuma, yes, we did receive an objection, which has been upheld,” said Moepya.
“We were unanimous. These are not matters we deal with that are personal. It is a provision of the law against which we must measure an objection, and it’s straightforward. It is whether the person qualifies or does not qualify.”
Zuma, sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court in 2021, was nominated as a candidate for the elections by the newly formed MK Party.
Zuma’s presidency ended in 2018 amid corruption allegations when incumbent Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him.
He was later sentenced to 15 months in jail in June 2021 after refusing to testify to a panel probing financial corruption and cronyism under his presidency. His jailing prompted protests, riots and looting that left more than 350 dead.
He was freed on medical parole just two months into his term.
An appeals court later ruled Zuma’s release was illegally granted and ordered him back to jail.
But on returning to a correctional centre, he immediately benefitted from a remission of non-violent offenders approved by Ramaphosa.
The electoral commission said in a statement that under the constitution “any person who was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine” cannot stand in an election.
Zuma is also facing separate charges of corruption in an arms procurement scandal in the 1990s when he was vice president.
Despite his legal troubles, Zuma still wields political clout and has been campaigning for the MK party in an attempt to revive his career and weaken his former party, the ANC, which suspended him in January.
The decision to bar Zuma can be appealed before April 2.
MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlhela told the AFP news agency the party was “looking at the merit of that objection but we will, of course, will appeal it”.
South Africa will hold the national and local government elections on May 29.
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