S.Africa's Ex-president Zuma Wins Court Bid To Run In May Election

A South African court on Tuesday ruled that former president Jacob Zuma can stand in May's general elections, overturning a decision by electoral authorities to bar him over a previous conviction

Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) A South African court on Tuesday ruled that former president Jacob Zuma can stand in May's general elections, overturning a decision by electoral authorities to bar him over a previous conviction.

In a verdict that could sway the vote, the electoral court ruled in favour of Zuma, 81, who is fronting uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new opposition party that has become a dark horse in the election race.

"The decision of the Electoral Commission... is set aside," the court wrote in its ruling seen by AFP.

It did not provide an explanation of how the verdict was reached.

South Africa is to hold general elections on May 29 in what is expected to be the most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in 1994.

Zuma's ability to stand for office could prove a key factor.

Banking on his popularity, MK is expected to cut well into the vote share of the already embattled ruling African National Congress (ANC) -- the ex-president's former political home.

This could precipitate the ANC towards its worst result in three decades, seeing it drop below 50 percent of the vote.

Short of a parliamentary majority, it would be forced to seek coalition partners to remain in power.

- 'On the ballot' -

"President Zuma will be on the ballot paper," the ex-leader's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, cheered on social media, posting a photo of her smiling father.

The electoral commission had earlier excluded Zuma from the race, saying the constitution barred anyone convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months' imprisonment.

Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail in June 2021 after refusing to testify to a panel probing financial corruption and cronyism under his presidency.

But his lawyers successfully argued that the provision did not apply to their client.

On Monday, they told the court the sentence did not disqualify the veteran politician as it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings and it had been shortened by a remission.

Zuma was freed on medical parole just two months into his term.

"If the masses want me to be president, what's going to stop them?" an upbeat Zuma told supporters, after the Monday hearing. "Allow me to go and finish what I started."

The ruling comes with the ANC struggling in the polls amid a weak economy and allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

- Political tensions -

Some opinion polls put MK at above 10 percent nationwide, a share that would make it the third or fourth political force behind the ANC and the liberal Democratic Alliance.

The party is projected to make a particularly strong showing in the battleground region of KwaZulu-Natal -- Zuma's home province.

It largely relies on the considerable political clout still wielded by Zuma, who despite scandals and graft allegations is still popular, particularly among the country's more than 10 million Zulus.

Tensions between the ANC and MK have run high in recent months.

The former has unsuccessfully tried to have the latter disqualified and has taken it to court to stop it from using the MK name, alleging intellectual property theft.

And last week a MK leader appeared in court accused of inciting violence for saying that massive riots would erupt if the MK was not allowed to run.

More than 350 people were killed in 2021 in a wave of protests, riots and looting sparked by the jailing of Zuma, who has long been bitter about the way he was forced out of office under a cloud of corruption allegations.

South Africans will be voting for a new parliament, which in turn will elect the president.

The electoral commission is expected to publish the final candidate list on Wednesday.