In a ruling on Monday, South Africa’s Constitutional Court declared former President Jacob Zuma ineligible to run for a seat in the National Assembly in the upcoming general election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the court upheld a previous decision by the Electoral Commission, which barred Zuma from participating in the election due to his criminal conviction for contempt of court.
The ruling is a significant blow to Zuma’s political ambitions, as he had sought to regain political influence through a parliamentary seat. The Constitutional Court’s decision is final and binding, and it sets a crucial precedent for the country’s electoral laws.
Zuma’s legal team had argued that the Electoral Commission’s decision was unfair and violated his constitutional rights. However, the court rejected these arguments, affirming that Zuma’s conviction for contempt of court rendered him ineligible to hold public office.
The ruling is seen as a victory for South Africa’s democratic institutions and the rule of law, and it sends a strong message that no one is above the law, not even former presidents.
