A South African court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma can run for office in the country’s upcoming general election, overturning an earlier decision that had barred him from contesting the polls.

The Electoral Court decision on Tuesday paves the way for Zuma to run for president on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), a political organisation that he joined last year after denouncing the ruling African National Congress party that he once led.

“The decision of the Electoral Commission… is set aside,” the Electoral Court wrote in its ruling seen by AFP news agency.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decided last month to bar Zuma from running for a seat in Parliament on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK).

The IEC disqualified Zuma over his 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court. He was sentenced to 15 months after he refused to testify to a panel investigating corruption under his government.

However, the Electoral Court overturned the decision.

South Africa does not allow people sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of paying a fine to run in elections.

Zuma’s lawyers had argued that the sentence did not disqualify him as it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings and had been shortened by a remission.

Read the statement below: