Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been disqualified from running for Parliament in the upcoming election due to a previous criminal conviction. Zuma, who resigned as president in 2018 amidst allegations of corruption, is now leading the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and campaigning against the African National Congress, which he once led. This decision by the Constitutional Court may still be appealed, and it is seen as a significant twist in Zuma’s return to politics.
Analysts believe that the ANC, which has been in power since Nelson Mandela’s presidency in 1994, may receive less than 50% of votes in the upcoming election. This would be the ANC’s worst electoral performance since coming into power post-apartheid. The pressure on the ANC stems from Zuma’s presence drawing support away from the party, as he continues to be a prominent figure in South African politics despite his disqualification from running for office.
Jacob Zuma has been a prominent figure in South African politics for many years. He played a crucial role in the liberation struggle against apartheid and was appointed as South Africa’s deputy president in 1999. Despite legal challenges and allegations of corruption throughout his political career, Zuma was elected as ANC president in 2007 and South Africa’s president in 2009. However, his presidency was plagued by allegations of corruption, eventually leading to his resignation in 2018.
Zuma shocked the country in December by denouncing the ANC and campaigning against the party that had been central to his political career. He formed the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, named after the ANC’s military wing, and has been actively campaigning across the country. Despite his disqualification from standing as a candidate in the upcoming election, Zuma’s party poses a threat to the ANC by potentially drawing support away from the party and emerging as a significant opposition force.
Zuma’s disqualification from the election stems from his conviction for contempt of court in 2021. The Constitutional Court ruled that the constitution disqualifies individuals from standing for office if they have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine, which applies to Zuma. Despite his disqualification, Zuma’s party still poses a threat to the ANC and may play a role in shaping the political landscape of South Africa in the upcoming election.
In conclusion, Jacob Zuma’s disqualification from running for Parliament in the upcoming election marks a significant turn in South African politics. His leadership of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and campaign against the ANC pose a threat to the long-ruling party, which may see its worst electoral performance since the end of apartheid. Zuma’s contentious return to politics, legal challenges, and role in South African history have made him a polarizing figure, with implications for the future of the country’s political landscape.
