CAPE TOWN, South Africa: Former South African President Jacob Zuma, who ruled the country between 2009 and 2018, has been barred from running in the country’s general election in May.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa or the IEC, has not given a reason for the decision.
However, Zuma’s 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court is most likely the reason to disqualify him.
His support for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has been seen as a possible threat to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has suspended Mr Zuma.
The 81-year-old served as president from 2009 until 2018 but has had to step down because of corruption allegations.
Zuma’s new party is named after the African National Congress’s former military wing, and he sees himself as the true heir to the governing party’s revolutionary legacy.
The ANC had sought South Africa’s electoral body deregister MK, but that request was rejected on Tuesday.
Zuma has been spearheading the campaign of the MK party and was the first name on their candidates list, but the electoral commission received objections to him potentially becoming a member of the National Assembly.
Rather than voting directly for a president, the nation elects the National Assembly members. The head of the winning party then becomes the country’s leader.
“In the case of former President Zuma, yes, we did receive an objection, which has been upheld,” electoral commission head Mosotho Moepya said on Thursday.
“The party that has nominated him has been informed,” Moepya told media-persons.
The former president has the time to challenge the decision until April 2.
According to MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndlhela, the party was “looking at the merit of that objection but we will of course appeal it”.
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for contempt of court, and the constitution says anyone jailed for more than 12 months is ineligible to stand for election.
