South Africa’s highest court has barred former President Jacob Zuma from running for parliament in next week’s general election.
The Constitutional Court ruled that his 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court – a crime under South African law – disqualified him.
Mr Zuma was convicted in 2021 for refusing to testify at an inquiry investigating corruption during his presidency which ended in 2018.
He has been campaigning under the banner of the newly formed Mkhonto weSizwe (MK) party after falling out with the governing African National Congress (ANC).
MK secretary general Sihle Ngubane said the party was disappointed with the ruling, but it would not affect the party’s campaign and Mr Zuma’s face would remain on the ballot paper for the 29 May election.
“He is still the leader of the party. It [the judgment] doesn’t affect our campaign at all,” he said.
South Africans vote for political parties, with the candidates at the top of their lists getting parliamentary seats depending on the number of votes the party gets.
The electoral commission said Mr Zuma’s name would now be removed from MK’s list of parliamentary candidates, while confirming that his image would remain on ballot papers, alongside his party’s logo.
