Nine days before what is regarded as the most important election in South Africa’s thirty years of democracy, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that former President Jacob Zuma was ineligible to run for parliament.
Zuma and his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which takes its name from the former armed wing of his former party, the ruling African National Congress, have suffered a serious setback. The MK was hoping that the 82-year-old’s widespread support in KwaZulu Natal, his home province, would increase their margin of victory.
Zuma was greeted by ecstatic crowds at the MK’s manifesto launch rally in Soweto’s Orlando Stadium this weekend. Many have been taken aback by the MK’s steady polling of 10% ahead of next week’s election, primarily to the detriment of his previous party, the ruling African National Congress, and the extreme Economic Freedom Fighters party, led by Julius Malema.
The Electoral Commission had petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming that Zuma was ineligible to run for office because of a contempt of court conviction that resulted in a 15-month prison sentence in 2021. The judges, in their ruling on Monday, agreed.
“It is declared that Mr. Zuma was convicted of an offense and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment and is accordingly not eligible to be a member of, and not qualified to stand for election to, the National Assembly,” the ruling said.
“This unsurprising decision, while disappointing, has not disheartened us,” the MK party said in a statement.
The small group of MK supporters outside the Johannesburg Constitutional Court shared this opinion. MK Women’s League member Lindiwe Mtshali said that she was disappointed but resolute about the decision.
“I believe it will fortify our campaign since it provides additional motivation for individuals to participate in the campaign and cast their votes for the MK party, as our supporters are aware that we are up against a challenging system that is making every effort to undermine our goals,” she stated to NPR.
When Zuma joined MK last year, he shocked the governing ANC, his political home for his entire life. He was president of South Africa for two terms, from 2009 to 2018. He had been forced to resign as president in 2018 amid corruption allegations. His jailing in 2021 triggered riots in his home province of KwaZulu Natal, leading to the deaths of more than 300 people and widespread looting.
Reacting to today’s ruling, ANC leader and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed concerns about further violence.
“In South Africa, the rule of law is what governs us,” he said to the local radio station 702. “Once a constitutional court renders a decision, it is final, and our security forces are prepared if violence is threatened.”
The African National Congress (ANC) is still expected to win the election next week, which is regarded by many as the most important vote since apartheid ended thirty years ago. Many analysts believe this election could mark the first time the ANC has received less than fifty percent of the vote.
