- 12:25Moroccan Buyers Surge to Second Place in Spanish Property Market
- 12:05Kamala Harris Highlights Trump's Campaign Fatigue in New Attack Ad
- 11:40Stellantis Shifts Gears: Morocco's Automotive Boom Raises Questions for European Manufacturing
- 11:25Elon Musk Increases Financial Incentive for Petition Supporting Constitutional Rights
- 11:15Morocco's Human Rights Council Pushes for Enhanced Protections in Strike Legislation
- 11:02Trump Claims Sinwar's Demise Paves the Way for Peace in Gaza, Plans Dialogue with Netanyahu
- 10:30Morocco's King Spearheads Major Administrative Overhaul with Key Appointments
- 10:06Venezuela Appoints Alex Saab as New Industry Minister Amid Political Turmoil
- 09:50Morocco's 2025 Financial Roadmap: King Mohammed VI Unveils Ambitious Plan for Economic Growth and Social Progress
Follow us on Facebook
Jacob Zuma Barred from Parliamentary Run Ahead of South Africa's Pivotal Elections
In a momentous ruling bound to intensify political tensions, South Africa's Constitutional Court has disqualified former President Jacob Zuma from contesting a seat in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 29. This decision comes amid heightened anticipation surrounding what is widely regarded as a pivotal vote for Africa's most advanced economy.
The Constitutional Court, the nation's highest judicial authority, ruled that a constitutional provision prohibiting individuals from standing for Parliament if they have been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine applies to the 82-year-old former leader. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 by the same court for contempt after refusing to testify at a judicial inquiry investigating government corruption.
According to the Johannesburg-based Constitutional Court, Zuma cannot serve as a lawmaker until five years after the completion of his criminal sentence. This ruling comes a mere nine days before the highly anticipated national elections.
Zuma, once a towering figure who led South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, was forced out as its leader in 2017 and resigned as president in 2018 amid a cloud of corruption allegations that had plagued his administration.
In a surprising political resurgence late last year, Zuma formed a new party called uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation), or the MK Party, reigniting his fierce criticism of the ANC and current President Cyril Ramaphosa, the man who succeeded him as both party leader and the country's president.
"This is the highest court in the land, and we can't challenge this decision," said Sihle Ngubane, secretary-general of Zuma's MK Party. "But we'll make our decision as an executive what to do from here onwards, dictated by Jacob Zuma."
Next week's election is poised to be South Africa's most significant in 30 years, with the beleaguered ANC facing the biggest challenge to its long-standing rule since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ruling party is struggling to maintain its parliamentary majority, and the election could potentially force the country into a national coalition government, marking the most significant political shift since the dismantling of the apartheid system of white minority rule.
While Zuma's MK Party is not expected to overtake the ANC, its emergence as a new threat could further erode the ruling party's vote share, making it even more challenging for the ANC to retain its majority. Zuma's enduring influence and the potential for his supporters to reject the Constitutional Court's decision add to the heightened political temperature.
As South Africa prepares for this watershed moment, the nation's attention will be fixed on the implications of this ruling and the potential for a seismic shift in the country's political landscape, a testament to the resilience of its democracy and the enduring legacy of its struggle for freedom.