Ex-president’s jail sentence precludes him from standing for new MK party in decision that could affect general election results
South Africa’s top court has ruled that the former president Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run for parliament in the general election on 29 May, a judgment that could influence the outcome and trigger unrest from Zuma’s supporters.
The constitutional court found Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualified him from standing in the 29 May election, as the constitution prohibits anyone given a prison sentence of 12 months or longer from holding a parliamentary seat.
