South Africa's top court rules former President Zuma cannot stand in election over criminal record

South Africa’s highest court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma is not allowed to run for Parliament in a national election next week because of a previous criminal conviction. The decision is likely to increase political tensions ahead of a pivotal vote in Africa's most advanced country. The Constitutional Court said Monday that a section of the constitution disqualifying people if they’ve been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine applies to the 82-year-old Zuma. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for contempt of court for refusing to testify at a judicial inquiry into government corruption.