South Africa’s top court is preparing to hear an appeal over whether the former President Jacob Zuma will be eligible to stand in what is forecast to be a close election.
Mr Zuma, 82, leads a new opposition party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, that analysts say could disrupt the outcome of the general election on May 29.
A lower in court said in April that he was free to run after the electoral commission had barred him over a contempt of court conviction.
It had argued the constitution prevented people from holding public office if convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.
Mr Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2021 for failing to testify in a corruption investigation, though he only served three months on health grounds.
