South Africa’s Electoral Court on Tuesday the 9th of April 2024 reversed its decision and rules that ex-President Jacob Zuma can run for office in the upcoming general election. This decision paves the way for Zuma to run for president on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party( MK) a new political party he recently joined last year after denouncing the ruling African National Congress party that he once led. This ruling overturns an earlier decision barring him from contesting. You may recall that the Independent Electoral Commission had earlier ruled that Zuma could not run after it received an objection against his candidacy due to his criminal record.

Former President Zuma is planning to represent the uMkhonto weSizwe Party since after leaving the ruling African National Congress which he was the for leader. The Independent Electoral Commission initially rejected his candidacy due to his conviction in 2021 for defying a court order. South African constitution does not permit, individuals convicted of a crime and receiving a prison sentence exceeding 12 months without the option of fine are ineligible to run for legislative positions, But in a brief court order released on Tuesday the 9th of April, the court announced that an appeal by Zuma and his party was successful and that the objection against his candidacy had been dismissed.

However, Jacob Zuma was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for defying a court order to appear before a judicial commission probing corruption allegations in government and state-owned companies during his term in office as the President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018 and this falls under this category
Despite that, the court decided to dismiss all objections against his candidacy, lowing him to contest in the up coming general elections.

  Former President Jacob Zuma.

His Party uMkhonto weSizwe welcomed the court decision, happily saying it had always been in its view that the electoral commission’s decision to bar Zuma was wrong and now the court has corrected their earlier ruling. “We are ecstatic at the court verdict because we have always said that President Zuma and the MK Party’s rights have to be upheld,” Ndhlela said. “What this basically means is that he will be our presidential candidate and he will be in Parliament after the elections.” South Africa will be electing 400 members of the General Assembly on May 29. A month later, the lawmakers in the new parliament will choose the country’s president.

 Zuma Cleared to Run in South African Election