The Constitutional Court will today rule on former President Jacob Zuma's eligibility to serve in Parliament as an MP for the MKP following his 15-month sentence for contempt of the apex court.

The televised ruling which will be handed down in Braamfontein at 10am, follows an urgent bid by the IEC to challenge the Electoral Court's findings that Zuma qualifies for election to the National Assembly because his sentence for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo Commission could not be appealed.

The Electoral Court found the 15-month term, therefore, did not qualify as a ‘sentence’ under section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution. 

The Star reports that Zuma was released on medical parole on 5 September 2021, by the National Commissioner of Correctional Services.

He only served three of his 15-month term imposed by the Constitutional Court for refusing to testify in the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. 

He was then granted a special remission of sentence by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola due to prison overcrowding.

News24 reports that was the IEC is also challenging the Electoral Court's majority finding that Ramaphosa's decision to grant a remission of sentence to thousands of inmates to ‘address prison overcrowding’, and ensure Zuma was immediately released from prison after he was forced to return because his medical parole was found to be unlawful, had reduced his sentence to ‘three months’.

This shorter sentence length would mean Zuma could serve as an MP.

Full News24 report

Full report in The Star