The South African Supreme Court ruled to ban former President Zuma from participating in the election. : NPR

Former South African President Jacob Zuma arrives at Orlando Stadium in Soweto Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, to launch the manifesto of his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party on Saturday, May 18, 2024 .

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Jerome/AP Delay

Former South African President Jacob Zuma arrives at Orlando Stadium in Soweto Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, to launch the manifesto of his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party on Saturday, May 18, 2024 .

Jerome/AP Delay

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The Constitutional Court in South Africa has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma cannot run for parliament, just nine days before the most important vote in South Africa’s 30 years of democracy .

It was a significant blow for Zuma and his new men uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), named after the old armed wing of his previous party, the ruling party African National Congress. MKs are counting on the 82-year-old’s popularity in his home province of KwaZulu Natal to boost their votes.

Zuma was greeted by ecstatic crowds at the MK’s manifesto launch rally in Soweto’s Orlando Stadium this weekend. MK surprised many people vote consistently at 10% ahead of next week’s election – mainly at the expense of his old party, the ruling ANC, and the progressive party. Those who fought for economic freedom party led by Julius Malema.

The electoral commission went to the high court arguing that due to the 15-month prison sentence Zuma was handed down in 2021 for contempt of court, the constitution barred him from running. The justices, in their ruling on Monday, agreed.

“It is declared that Mr. Zuma has been convicted of an offense and sentenced to over 12 months in prison and is therefore ineligible to be a member and ineligible to stand for election to Parliament,” the ruling said.

In a statement, the MK party said “This unsurprising decision, while disappointing, does not discourage us.”

This was a view echoed by a small number of MK supporters outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. MK Women’s League member Lindiwe Mtshali said she was disappointed but firm about the decision.

“I think it will actually strengthen our campaign, because then it gives people more reason to go out and support the cause and vote for the MK party because our supporters know that we are facing a difficult system that is trying in every way to destabilize us.” mission,” she told NPR.

Zuma shocked his long-time political home, the ruling ANC, by joining MK last year. He was president of South Africa for two terms, from 2009 to 2018. He was forced to resign as chairmant in 2018 amid corruption allegations. His imprisonment in 2021 sparked riots in his home province of KwaZulu Natal, leading to the deaths of more than 300 people and widespread looting.

Reacting to today’s verdict, ANC leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed fears of further violence.

“We have laws in South Africa that govern us,” he told locals. radio station 702. “Once the constitutional court has decided, that’s it and if there is any threat of violence, our security forces are ready.”

The ANC is still expected to win next week’s election, which is widely seen as the most consequential vote since the end of apartheid 30 years ago and the most consequential vote since the end of apartheid 30 years ago. a point which many analysts predict could see the ANC win less than 50% of the vote for the first time. .