![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cradior.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/topshot-former-south-african-president-jacob-zuma-nows-his-head-while-praying-during-the.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\nMr Zuma, 81, has been campaigning for the new Mkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is a former stalwart of the governing African National Congress (ANC), and a controversial figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jacob Zuma served as president from 2009 until 2018, when he had to step down because of corruption allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2021 for failing to testify in a corruption investigation, though he only served three months on health grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ruling by the court could have a significant impact on the outcome of next month’s election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Zuma is the face of a newly formed MK opposition party, which is named after the ANC’s former military wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ex-president sees himself as the true heir to the revolutionary roots of ANC, once led by Nelson Mandela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Zuma’s court victory means he can now run as the MK’s leading candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ruling will also be a blow to the ANC, which after 30 years in power, faces a potentially bruising election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time since the start of the democratic era in 1994, the ANC’s vote share could fall below 50%, several opinion polls predict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MK party is seen as popular in Mr Zuma’s home region of KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
South Africa former president Jacob Zuma, Wins Court Battle to Stand in South Africa’s Election. Last month the electoral commission barred him over a contempt of court conviction. It argued the constitution prevented people from holding public office if convicted of a crime and to more than 12 months in prison. Mr Zuma, 81, has…<\/p>\n