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South Africa's ex-leader Zuma disallowed from standing in election

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma is disallowed from running for parliament in this month's election, the country's top court ruled on Monday, a judgment that could influence the result and trigger unrest from Zuma's fans.

The constitutional court ruled that Zuma's 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualified him from standing in the May 29 election, as the constitution restricts anybody offered a prison sentence of 12 months or longer from holding a parliamentary seat.

It is declared that Mr. Zuma was founded guilty of an offense and sentenced to more than 12 months' jail time, ... and is appropriately not eligible to be a member of, and not certified to stand for election to, the National Assembly, its ruling said.

Zuma, who was required to stop as president in 2018, has fallen out with the governing African National Congress (ANC). and has actually been campaigning for a new party called uMkhonto we. Sizwe (MK) called after the ANC's previous armed wing.

MK secretary-general Sihle Ngubane told local reporters that. Monday's judgment did not impact its campaign. He included that the. party's leadership would satisfy and take direction from Zuma on. the way forward.

Viewpoint surveys suggest the ANC's majority is at danger after 30. years in power, and MK represents a hazard to it, especially in. Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal where he remains popular.

In 2021 Zuma's jailing activated riots in KwaZulu-Natal in. which more than 300 people passed away and which changed into a larger. spate of looting.

Asked about the potential for violence in the wake of the. constitutional court ruling throughout an interview with local radio. station 702, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated: I'm not concerned. about this instigating violence.

We have rule of law in South Africa that governs us. As soon as a. constitutional court has actually chosen, that is it and should there be. any threat of violence our security forces are all set, he stated.

Some political specialists, nevertheless, think the danger of. disruption from Zuma's following must not be eliminated.

In light of the response to the arrest of Zuma in 2021, one. has to fear that there might be some significant effort by those very same. networks to destabilise this election, Daryl Glaser, a politics. professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in. Johannesburg, told .

NO CHANGE TO TALLY PAPER

South Africa's electoral commission initially disqualified. Zuma in March, but a month later a court overturned the. disqualification saying the relevant area of the constitution. used just to individuals who had a possibility to appeal versus their. sentences, which Zuma did not.

The electoral commission then took the case to the. constitutional court.

The commission stated on Monday that Zuma's photo would. remain on the tally paper for next week's election but that his. name would be eliminated from the list of parliamentary candidates. chosen by MK. Zuma's face can be on the tally paper as he is. the authorized leader of MK.

An Ipsos opinion survey published in April put assistance for MK. at approximately 8%, versus around 40% for the ANC.

While the ANC is still on track to get the most votes, if it. gets less than 50% assistance it would need to look for several. union partners to govern the nation, the very first such. alliance since the celebration swept to power under freedom hero. Nelson Mandela at the end of apartheid.

At an MK rally on Saturday, Zuma informed countless. fans in a stadium in South Africa's most significant area. Soweto that his party would supply free education for. disadvantaged kids and create jobs.

(source: Reuters)