By: Natasha Archary

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run in the 2024 elections.
Just 9-days before South Africans take to the polls on 29 May to cast their votes in the National and Provincial elections, Zuma’s candidacy for office has been abruptly halted.
This after the Electoral Commission appraoched the apex court for clarity on Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution.
Earlier this year the Electoral Court ruling stating that Zuma could not run in the upcoming National and Provincial elections in May as leader of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
However, Zuma and the MK Party filed an appeal against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decision to disallow Zuma from the elections and won the appeal.
An order was granted allowing Zuma to be on the ballot box on the 29th of May.
Under Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution it states that a person who has served a sentence of more than a year is unable to serve as a member of parliament (MP), per Section 47 of the constitution.
Following his 2021 conviction for contempt of court, Zuma was given a 15-month prison sentence by the Constitutional Court.
Seeking clarity on the Electoral Court setting aside its decision against Zuma and the MK Party, the Electoral Commission confirmed an urgent and direct appeal will be lodged.
On Monday, 20 May the ConCourt brought Zuma’s dreams of running for office to an end by concluding that Zuma can only run for President after 5-years because of his prior conviction.
“This court concludes that Mr Zuma was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12-months imprisonment for the purposes of Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution, and is accordingly not eligible to be a member of and not qualify to stand for elections until 5-years has elapsed.
In the result, the following order is made, the applicant is granted leave to appeal directly to this court.”
The ConCourt decision on Zuma’s eligibility for office comes after South Africans voted abroad over the weekend.
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