Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been given the green light to contest the upcoming election by the country’s electoral court.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, overturned the decision of the South African Independent Electoral Commission (SAIEC) last month, which had barred Zuma from running due to his criminal record.
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for defying a court order to appear before a judicial commission investigating corruption allegations during his presidential term from 2009 to 2018.
In its brief court order, the electoral court stated that an appeal by Zuma and his party was successful, dismissing the objection against his candidacy and setting aside the decision of the Electoral Commission.
With this clearance, Zuma is expected to run for the presidency on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which he founded last year after leaving the African National Congress (ANC).
The upcoming election, scheduled for May 29, is anticipated to be South Africa’s most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in 1994.
Analysts suggest that Zuma’s popularity may enable the MK party to significantly impact the vote share of the ruling ANC.
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