Jacob Zuma said on Thursday that he's going to fight for his rights after the court's decision.
"Judges of the constitutional court have taken a decision that I can't exercise my freedom, my democracy. [...] I am going to fight for my rights until this country agrees that freedom must be complete freedom, not for some and oppression for others," Zuma said in a YouTube video shared by his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party.
However, as the party's registered head, Zuma's face will continue to appear on the ballot papers for the election, even if his name will no longer be listed among the MK list of parliamentary candidates.
In 2021, a court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison after he refused to testify to a commission investigating financial corruption and nepotism during his presidency.
Although the Electoral Court found that Zuma, who was part of the pardoned group, spent less than 12 months in prison due to his health, the court clarified that he still has a criminal record despite the pardon. In addition to being barred from lawmaking, he faces trial next year for his alleged involvement in corrupt arms purchases for the country in 1999.
The National and provincial elections in South Africa are rapidly approaching. On May 29, South Africans will be able to cast their ballots. Voting for South African citizens residing overseas already began last Friday.