Zuma not eligible to become an MP, Constitutional Court rules

The Constitutional Court found that corruption-accused former president Jacob Zuma is not eligible to stand as a candidate for the National Assembly. 

Justice Leona Theron delivered the unanimous judgment penned by herself on Monday morning, overturning the Electoral Court's earlier decision that set aside the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) finding that Zuma was not eligible to stand in the elections for his fledgling Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) because he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court by the apex court.

While Zuma will not be representing the MKP in Parliament, his face remains on the ballot paper as the head of his fledgling party. The ballot papers are all printed, with voters abroad casting the first ballots in this historic election over the weekend.