Former South African president Jacob Zuma has announced that he will fight for his rights after the country’s top court ruled that he is not eligible to run for parliament in the upcoming election. The Constitutional Court made the ruling on Monday, stating that Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualifies him from standing in the May 29 vote.
In a YouTube video shared by his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, Zuma expressed his disappointment and frustration with the ruling, stating that it infringes on his freedom and democracy. “Judges of the Constitutional Court have taken a decision that I can’t exercise my freedom, my democracy,” he said. “I am going to fight for my rights until this country agrees that freedom must be a complete freedom, not for some and oppression for others.”
Zuma’s name will be removed from MK’s list of parliamentary candidates, but his face will remain on the election’s ballot papers as he is the registered leader of the party. This development comes after Zuma endorsed MK in December, announcing that he would not campaign for the governing African National Congress (ANC), which he led from 2007 until 2017.
Zuma’s presidency was marked by corruption scandals and slowing economic growth, and his resignation in 2018 was seen as a victory for his opponents within the ANC. His jailing in 2021 triggered riots in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, which resulted in the deaths of over 300 people and widespread looting.
The former president’s vow to fight for his rights has sparked concerns about potential unrest and divisions within the country. His supporters see him as a champion of the poor and marginalized, while his critics view him as a corrupt and divisive figure. The upcoming election is expected to be closely contested, with the ANC facing challenges from opposition parties and internal divisions.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Jacob Zuma remains a polarizing figure in South African politics, and his actions will be closely watched by the nation and the world.
