South Africa Zuma Parole FILE - In this Sunday, July 4, 2021 file photo, former President Jacob Zuma addresses the press at his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province, S...

South Africa’s highest court has denied an application by former president Jacob Zuma to rescind his sentence of 15 months in jail for contempt of court.

After uncertainty over whether COVID-19 would force South Africa to postpone local government elections, the courts have ruled that the crucial polls should move ahead.