Former president Jacob Zuma is ineligible to stand as a candidate in the upcoming 29 May general elections and cannot occupy a seat in the National Assembly.
On Monday morning, the Constitutional Court confirmed that due to Zuma’s contempt conviction in 2021 and his sentence of 15 months, he cannot return to Parliament on the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s ticket.
Under Section 47 of the South African Constitution, anyone convicted of an offence and sentenced to 12 or more months cannot stand for office until five years after the end of the jail term.
Zuma was convicted under the Commissions Act, which compels anyone directed to appear before a state commission to attend on their given dates and times. The former president repeatedly ignored these summons, choosing to stay away from Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
