The ban on the former president's candidacy for the newly formed MK party has been lifted despite a criminal conviction. The ruling ANC could lose its absolute majority for the first time since 1994 in May elections. A South African court on Tuesday overruled electoral authorities' decision to bar former President Jacob Zuma from running in the country's general elections next month. South Africans will on May 29 vote for a new parliament, which will in turn elect the president. What do we know about the decision? "The decision of the Electoral Commission... is set aside," the Electoral Court wrote in its ruling seen by AFP news agency.  The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decided last month to bar Zuma from running for a seat in Parliament on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK). The IEC disqualified Zuma over his 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court. He was sentenced to 15 months after he refused to testify to a panel investigating corruption under his government. However, the Electoral Court overturned the decision.  South Africa does not allow people sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of paying a fine to run in elections. Zuma's lawyers had argued that the sentence did not disqualify him as it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings and had been shortened by a remission. ANC struggling in polls MK is expected to cut into the vote share of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Opinion polls show that the ANC, which has been rocked by several corruption scandals, could lose its absolute majority in parliament for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. If it does not achieve an outright majority of seats, the ANC will be forced to seek the support of smaller parties to form government. MK is projected to receive substantial support in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, which is Zuma's home region.  

The former president has been expelled from the ruling ANC and has been campaigning for the newly formed MK party. An MK spokesman said the party will appeal the decision made by the Independent Electoral Commission. Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been disqualified from running in the country's general elections in May. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Thursday he was one of eight candidates who faced official objections. "In the case of former president Zuma, yes, we did receive an objection, which has been upheld," IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said at a media briefing. The IEC disqualified him over his 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court. Increasing tensions in the run-up to the polls Zuma, who led the country from 2009 to 2018 until his removal amid wide-ranging allegations of corruption, parted ways with the ruling African National Congress in December and is now leading the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK). MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndlhela told the AFP news agency the party " of course will appeal" the IEC's decision. Some of the party's leaders have previously threatened violence if Zuma was barred from contesting the elections. Seperately the ANC has launched a legal challenge against Zuma's party, disputing its use of the name and trademark of the dissolved organization. The MK party is named after the former military wing of the ANC, which was disbanded at the end of apartheid. MK party can still compete in the vote The IEC's decision does not prevent the MK party from taking part in the May 29 poll. It is widely expected to be the most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994. According to recent polls, the ANC may dip below 50% of the national vote for the first time since it came into power. Zuma's popularity has helped the MK Party gain traction ahead of the upcoming polls, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.