Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been barred from running for Parliament in the upcoming election due to a prior criminal conviction. Zuma, who was forced to resign in 2018 amid corruption allegations, is now the leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and campaigning against the African National Congress (ANC) that he once led. The decision by the Constitutional Court may still be appealed, but it ruled that Zuma is only eligible to serve as a lawmaker five years after his 2021 contempt of court sentencing.
Analysts predict that the ANC, in power since the end of apartheid, may receive less than 50% of votes in the upcoming election and lose its parliamentary majority. Zuma’s return to politics is seen as a threat to the ANC’s dominance, as he continues to draw support away from the party. With Zuma’s disqualification from the election, the country’s political landscape is facing potential change, with greater support for opposition parties like uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
Jacob Zuma, at 82 years old, has been a prominent figure in South African politics for many years. A former ANC intelligence chief, Zuma played a crucial role in the struggle against apartheid and rose to become South Africa’s deputy president in 1999. His presidency was marked by controversy, with allegations of corruption involving his close allies the Gupta family that eventually led to his resignation in 2018 and subsequent legal troubles.
Zuma’s path to power was marked by legal challenges, including a high-profile rape trial in 2006 and corruption charges related to an arms deal in 2007. Despite facing multiple allegations and legal battles, Zuma was elected ANC president in 2007 and became South Africa’s president in 2009. However, his presidency was marred by corruption scandals and internal conflicts within the ANC that ultimately led to his downfall.
Zuma’s reemergence in politics came as a surprise to many when he denounced the ANC and launched the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in December. Campaigning against his former party, Zuma’s new political venture has the potential to reshape South Africa’s political landscape. However, his disqualification from the election due to a previous criminal conviction has raised questions about the future of his party and its impact on the ANC’s stronghold in the country’s politics.
Despite his disqualification, Zuma remains a significant figure in South African politics, with his party poised to challenge the ANC and potentially play a role in future coalitions. The upcoming election will be a crucial moment for South Africa as it navigates a changing political landscape, with implications for the future of the ANC and the country as a whole.
