South Africa’s Jacob Zuma wins court bid to contest upcoming election

A South African court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma can run for office as a lawmaker in the upcoming election, overturning an earlier decision that had barred him from contesting the polls.

The Electoral Court decision on Tuesday paves the way for Zuma to run for president on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, a new political organisation that he joined last year after denouncing the ruling African National Congress party that he once led.

The electoral commission had earlier ruled that Zuma could not run for office due to his criminal record, after it received an objection against his candidature.

“The decision of the Electoral Commission… is set aside,” the court wrote in its ruling, according to the AFP news agency.

More to come…