Jacob Zuma Cleared to Run in South Africa Election
Former President Wins Court Battle Over Eligibility
By Jenny Hill in Johannesburg and Natasha Booty in London
April 10, 2024
Jacob Zuma, who resigned as South Africa's president in disgrace in 2018, has won a court battle that paves the way for him to stand in the upcoming general election. The decision by the Electoral Court is a major setback for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been trying to distance itself from Zuma and his corruption scandals.
Zuma, who is 80 years old, filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by the Electoral Commission to bar him from running for office because of his 2018 corruption conviction. On Friday, the Electoral Court ruled that the commission had erred in its decision and that Zuma was eligible to run for president.
The ANC has said that it will appeal the court's decision. The party has been under pressure from its own members and from the public to take a stand against corruption. Zuma's return to politics is likely to further divide the ANC and could damage the party's chances in the election.
The general election is scheduled to be held on May 8, 2024. Zuma is the ANC's candidate for president. If he wins, he will be the first person to serve as president of South Africa for a third term.
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