THE ZUMA CANDIDACY

While the Constitutional Court could still rule that former president Jacob Zuma is ineligible to contest the May 29 general elections as a candidate for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) given his 2021 conviction for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo Commission, the ConCourt’s decision will make little difference.

This is because the Electoral Commission of South Africa (ECSA), whose decision to bar Zuma from contesting the elections was earlier this month overturned by the Electoral Court, has since registered Zuma as the face of the MKP on the ballot for the elections. According to the ECSA guidelines, the decision of who should appear on the ballot as the face of a political party is that of the party.

So, in the case of Zuma, it was the MKP which resolved that he should be the face of the party and no one can change that.

The fact that Zuma has a criminal record potentially disqualifying him from becoming a candidate in the elections is not applicable when it comes to him being the face of his own political party on the election ballot.

After all, some political experts strongly believe that Zuma has no intention of going to Parliament.

In any case, Zuma, who was the country’s president for nine years, stands to lose all the benefits he now enjoys as a former president should he become an MP.

As a seasoned politician, Zuma, despite constantly telling his supporters that the MKP will get a two-thirds majority in the elections, is acutely aware that it is impossible for the new party to get even half of what he claims it will get.

While a ConCourt ruling confirming that Zuma can stand as a candidate would come in handy, all that the former president needs to do to convince his supporters that he is running for the presidency is for his face to be on the election ballot.