Former South African president is considered ineligible on the eve of the election

South Africa's Supreme Court has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma is not eligible to run for parliament in next week's general election.

The unanimous decision put an end to months-long speculation and legal wrangling over the legal viability of the former leader of the African National Congress (ANC), who has become the public face of a rival party, running for the country's highest legislative body.

Zuma was forced to resign as president in 2018 following a series of corruption scandals and infighting within the ANC. He was found in contempt by the same constitutional court for his refusal to testify before an anti-corruption commission.

It was this sentence that prevented him from running, the court decided this Monday (20).

“(Zuma) is therefore not eligible for membership and is not qualified to stand for election to the national assembly until five years have elapsed since the completion of his sentence,” read judge Leona Theron.

“We welcome the decision and consider it to be well founded. Contempt of a court ruling is an extremely important ruling that cannot be treated lightly. The constitutional court reaffirmed this,” Neeshan Balton, from the Ahmed Kathrada foundation, told local television.

ANC majority under threat

Zuma and his newly formed uMkhonto WeSizwe Party pose a threat to the ANC, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal province. And ANC members fear they could erode the ruling party's support.

The May 29 vote could be the sternest test yet for Nelson Mandela's party, with dozens of opposition parties in the running. Many analysts believe the party's majority is under threat. Although the court ruled that Zuma is not eligible to run for deputy, his party will still contest the elections and his face will remain on the ballot.

Nhlamulo Ndhlela, leader of the uMkhonto WeSizwe party, told CNN that the court is biased against the former president and that they plan to continue the campaign.

“This does not change the fact that President Zuma is on the ballot and does not prevent him from leading the party,” Ndhlela said.