Jacob Zuma WILL NOT appear on ballot paper

**Former South African President, Jacob Zuma**

… Ex-president has a previous conviction

Despite the numerous rallies and campaigns hosted since the launch of Umkhonto Wesizwe Party a month ago, former president Jacob Zuma will not be allowed to contest this year’s elections.

Zuma barred from contesting for office

This is due to Zuma being sentenced to 15 months in jail for disregarding a summons to appear before the State Capture Commission.

According to the Daily News, the Independent Electoral Commission has revealed that the former president is disqualified from appearing in the ballot list, citing Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution. The Section pertains to individuals barred from contesting elections due to imprisonment.

It states:

“Anyone who, after this section took effect, is convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine, either in the Republic, or outside the Republic if the conduct constituting the offence would have been an offence in the Republic, but no one may be regarded as having been sentenced until an appeal against the conviction or sentence has been determined, or until the time for an appeal has expired. A disqualification under this paragraph ends five years after the sentence has
been completed.”

In accordance to the Constitution, Zuma will only be eligible to contest for office in 2029 at the age of 89.

Zuma was released from prison in August 2023, having only served two months of his 15-month sentence before being released on a presidential pardon.