Jerome Delay/AP
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma cannot stand for parliament, just nine days before the most important vote in South Africa's 30 years of democracy.
This is a significant blow to Zuma and his new party, Umkhonto Wisizwe (MK), named after a former militant in the ruling African National Congress. MK had hoped the 82-year-old's popularity in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal would boost his votes.
Mr Zuma was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the MK Manifesto launch rally at Soweto's Orlando Stadium this weekend. MK surprised many by maintaining a consistent 10 percent approval rating ahead of next week's election. This has largely come at the expense of his former party, the ruling ANC, and Julius Malema's radical Economic Freedom Fighters Party.
The Electoral Commission took the case to the Supreme Court, arguing that Zuma was constitutionally barred from running for president due to a 15-month prison sentence handed down in 2021 for contempt of court. The justices agreed in Monday's ruling.
“Mr Zuma is not eligible to be a member of parliament and is not eligible to run for parliament as he has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than 12 months,” the judgment said.
“While this surprising decision is disappointing, it will not let us down,” the MK party said in a statement.
This was a sentiment echoed by a small group of MK supporters outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. Lindiwe Mshali, a member of the MK Women's League, said she was disappointed by the decision but she stood firm.
“I think it will actually strengthen our campaign because it will give people even more reason to go out and support the cause and vote for the MK party. “The mission is because we recognize that we face a difficult regime that seeks to destabilize our society by any means necessary,” she told NPR.
Mr Zuma shocked his lifelong political stronghold, the ruling ANC, by joining MK last year. He served two terms as South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, but was forced to resign in 2018 due to corruption allegations. His imprisonment in 2021 sparked riots in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, leading to more than 300 deaths and widespread looting.
Following today's verdict, ANC leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed concerns of further violence.
“South Africa has the rule of law that governs us,” he told local radio station 702. “If the Constitutional Court makes a decision, that's it, and if there's a threat of violence, our security forces… is ready,” he said.
The ANC is still expected to win next week's election, which is widely seen as the most important vote since the end of apartheid three decades ago, with many analysts predicting the ANC will win 50% of the vote for the first time. I predict that there is a possibility of winning by less than 20%. .