The Election Commission of South Africa has declared that former President Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run for office in the May elections.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been disqualified from contesting in the May elections, according to the electoral commission.
General elections in South Africa are scheduled for May 29. It is anticipated that this would be the most contested election since apartheid ended in 1994.
Zuma has been running for office again with the newly established uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) (Spear of the Nation) party.
President of the electoral commission Mosotho Moepya said to reporters on Thursday, “In the case of former President Zuma, yes, we did receive an objection, which has been upheld,” without providing any further information. He remarked, “Those who are against the move have been informed, as has the party that nominated him.” close competition
For the first time since taking office in 1994, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is about to lose more than half of the vote.
A failing economy, accusations of corruption, and poor administration are all contributing to the party’s decline in support. The ANC, which was formerly led by Nelson Mandela, will have to create a coalition in order to maintain power if it fails to receive 50 percent of the vote.
According to recent polls, the ANC is expected to receive slightly over 40% of the vote, followed by the MK party at 13% and the main opposition Democratic Alliance at roughly 27%.
2018 saw the end of Zuma’s term amid accusations of corruption, and President Cyril Ramaphosa took over. After just two months on medical parole, he was released from prison.
Later, an appeals court declared that Zuma’s release was unlawful and returned him to custody. However, as soon as he got back to a correctional facility, Ramaphosa granted a remission for non-violent prisoners, which helped him right away.
In a statement, the electoral commission stated that “any person who was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine” is ineligible to run for office in an election under the constitution.
While serving as vice president in the 1990s, Zuma is also accused of corruption in a different case involving the purchase of weapons.
In an effort to boost his career and undermine his previous party, the ANC, which suspended him in January, Zuma has been campaigning for the MK party despite his legal issues.
Before April 2, there is time to challenge the decision to prohibit Zuma. Speaking to reporters, MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlhela stated that the party was “looking at the merit of that objection but we will, of course, appeal it.”
