Jacob Zuma Disallowed From Participating In South African Presidential Election

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, is not permitted to run for office

The electoral commission of South Africa has prohibited former president Jacob Zuma from running in the upcoming general election scheduled for May 29.

The exclusion was confirmed by commission president Mosotho Moepya, who withheld specifics, in response to an objection that was upheld.

The ruling has been sent to Zuma's party; however, there is still time to file an appeal till April 2.

Reviving his political career and taking on the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is Zuma's goal as he actively campaigns for the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, after being forced to resign from government in 2018 due to corruption charges.

Tension in the electoral landscape means that the African National Congress (ANC) may lose ground and have to form coalitions in order to stay in power.

Economic difficulties are a contributing factor in the ANC's declining popularity, as do claims of corruption and poor leadership.

According to constitutional regulations, a person cannot run for office if they have been found guilty of a crime and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the possibility of a fine.

The legal obstacles preventing Zuma from participating in elections are reflected in his recent 15-month jail sentence for contempt and the ongoing corruption accusations from his administration.