Johannesburg —

A South African court ruled on Tuesday that former President Jacob Zuma can run in the upcoming national elections in May.

Zuma is appealing the ban from the Electoral Commission, which last month said he could not contest a parliamentary seat because the constitution bars people convicted of crimes and sentenced to more than a year in prison from running for public office.

Zuma, 81, was forced to resign at the end of his second term in 2018 amid numerous corruption scandals. In 2021, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court for refusing to appear at a corruption investigation.

Zuma’s lawyers argued in court on Monday that the ban did not apply because the former leader only served three months in office before being released on health grounds because he received a reduced sentence.

The court ruling will not be welcome news to the ruling African National Congress party. Zuma, a lifelong member of the party, endorsed the newly formed party “umkhonto weSizwe” or “MK” late last year.

The ANC suspended him, and Zuma – who still enjoys significant support in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal despite all the accusations against him – has since campaigned as the face of MK Activity.

The May 29 national election is widely expected to be the most competitive ever, with surveys suggesting the ANC will win less than 50% of the vote for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994.

Political analyst Sandile Swana breaks down what the electoral court’s ruling means.

“Jacob Zuma’s re-entry into mainstream politics has been eating away at the electoral base of Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress, and their base is strengthened now that the Electoral Court has decided that Zuma can become the party’s representative , he can run, he can be the party’s No. 1 candidate,” Swana said.

Zuma told supporters outside court on Monday that he was happy to lead the country again.

However, Swana noted that there were still legal questions over whether Zuma could serve as president again, as he was already in his second term when he was forced to step down.

South Africans do not directly elect the president, but instead vote for members of parliament. Whichever party wins a majority of seats elects its leader as president.

Independent analyst Asanda Ngoasheng said Tuesday’s developments were worrying.

“Now there is a risk that those who have faced or are facing multiple charges of corruption and state bankruptcy are coming back again,” Ngoaseng said. “Is Jacob Zuma really Mr Teflon who people say he is? Is there nothing to stick to him or is something going to happen to make him trip?”

Last month, the ANC went to court to try to prevent Zuma’s new party from using the name “uMkhonto weSizwe”, which is also the name of the ANC’s defunct armed wing.