South Africa’s top court bars Zuma from national polls over criminal record

Constitutional Court's decision is likely to increase political tensions ahead of pivotal vote next week

Cape Town: South Africa’s highest court ruled on Monday that former President Jacob Zuma is not allowed to stand as a candidate for Parliament in a national election next week because of a previous criminal conviction, a decision that’s likely to increase political tensions ahead of a pivotal vote.

The Constitutional Court said a section of the constitution disqualifying people from standing for office if they’ve been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine does apply to the 82-year-old Zuma.

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Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 by the Constitutional Court for contempt of court for refusing to testify at a judicial inquiry into government corruption.

The case over whether that sentence disqualified Zuma from the election came about because he had no option to appeal the ruling by the apex court that sent him to prison.

Zuma was South African President from 2009-18 but resigned under a cloud of corruption allegations. He made a return to politics last year with a new party and has been fiercely critical of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party he once led.

Next week’s election is expected to be the toughest test for the ANC, which has been in government for 30 years since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule. The ruling party is in danger of losing its majority for the first time, which would likely force Africa’s most advanced economy into a national coalition government for the first time.

Zuma’s new MK Party is expected to erode some of the ANC’s vote due to the former leader’s popularity in some parts of the country of 62 million. Zuma was also in line to make a contentious return to Parliament six years after being forced to step down as President by the ANC he led because of allegations that there was widespread government graft during his time in office.

Zuma has also been charged with corruption in a separate case and is expected to go on trial next April. He has pleaded not guilty. AP