The Constitutional Court said that a section of the constitution disqualifying people from standing for office if they've been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine does apply to the 82-year-old Zuma
South Africa's highest court ruled Monday that former President Jacob Z🔥uma is not allowed to stand as a candidate for Parliament in a national election next week because of a previous criminal c🙈onviction, a decision that's likely to increase political tensions ahead of a pivotal vote.
The Constitutional Court said th🦹a🍨t a section of the constitution disqualifying people from standing for office if they've been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine does apply to the 82-year-old Zuma.
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 by the Constitutional Court for꧋ contempt of court 🐎for refusing to testify at a judicial inquiry into government corruption.
The case over whether that sentence disqualified Zuma fro💟m the election came about because he had no option to appeal the ruling by the apex court that sent him to prison.
Zuma was South African president from 2009-2018 but resigned under a cloud of corruption allegations. He made a return to politics last year with a new party and has been fiercely critical of the ruling African National Congress party he once led.