Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, announced on social media that her father will be on the ballot paper for the upcoming general elections, accompanied by a photo of her smiling father.
A South African court overturned a decision by electoral authorities to bar Zuma from standing in the elections due to a contempt conviction.
In a surprising ruling, the electoral court sided with the 81-year-old Zuma, who is leading uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new opposition party that could potentially disrupt the May 29 election.
“The decision of the Electoral Commission… is set aside,” the court stated in its ruling, without providing further explanation.
Zuma’s participation in the campaign is expected to have a significant impact on South Africa’s most competitive general elections since 1994. MK, banking on Zuma’s popularity, is anticipated to erode the vote share of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Zuma’s former political party.
This could lead to the ANC’s vote share dropping below 50 percent for the first time since 1994, potentially necessitating coalition partnerships to remain in power.
MK celebrated the court’s decision as a “triumph” over what it perceived as efforts by the ANC to sideline it.
“This victory extends beyond President Zuma and the MK Party as it symbolizes a victory for every South African who believes in fairness, democracy, and the inviolable right to elect leaders of their choice, free from undue interference,” the party stated.
