South Africa: Electoral Commission bars Zuma from contesting 2024 elections

Former South African president Jacob Zuma cannot be the president of the country after this year’s general elections because of his criminal record.

This was clarified by the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The electoral body cited Section 47(e) of the country’s Constitution, which bars anyone who was convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment, without an option of a fine, from holding public office.

Section 47 of the Constitution provides that:

Every citizen who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly is eligible to be a member of the Assembly, except 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 if the conduct constituting the offence would have been an offence in the Republic.

“Therefore, this provision renders Former President JG Zuma disqualified to be on the list of any party contesting an election or to contest as an independent in the upcoming 2024 elections,” said the IEC.