Zuma's Legacy Archives - Radar Africa

Zuma expelled from ANC amid criticism

Despite publicly denouncing the ANC and leading the MK to a third-place finish in the parliamentary elections, former president Jacob Zuma maintained that he remained a member of the ANC. However, the party formalized his expulsion on Monday. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula criticized Zuma’s stance, questioning the rationale behind his continued claim to ANC membership after deliberately choosing to leave the party. “We are puzzled by your insistence on retaining membership in a party you’ve clearly decided to abandon. Your actions have compromised the ANC’s integrity,” Mbalula stated at a press conference. “You’ve played a significant role in our decline below the 50% threshold, and we’re now dealing with the fallout from your actions.” Zuma, who joined the ANC Youth League in 1959 and eventually rose to become the party leader, had maintained substantial political influence even after leaving office. Mbalula emphasized the party’s commitment to discipline, noting, “Regardless of rank, if someone violates the rules and constitution, we have a duty to enforce discipline. It’s unprecedented for a former president to face such disciplinary action, but it’s necessary.” In response to the expulsion, Zuma’s MK Party condemned the decision and accused the ANC’s disciplinary committee of operating as a “kangaroo court.” They claimed that neither Zuma nor his representative had been properly notified of the ruling, which they argue violates the ANC’s constitution. The ANC had initially suspended Zuma’s membership in January.

Zuma expelled from ANC amid criticism Read More »

South Africa’s ANC expels ex-President Jacob Zuma

Africa / fatih

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) party, where he had been a member for many decades, public broadcaster SABC reported Sunday. Zuma, 82, who has been an ANC party member for 60 years, was found guilty of founding and campaigning for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which obtained 58 seats in parliamentary elections in May, it said. The broadcaster said it was in possession of documents confirming Zuma’s expulsion. The ANC has, however, not yet issued a statement regarding the expulsion. The report said the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee found Zuma guilty of prejudicing the integrity of the party by acting in collaboration with uMkhonto weSizwe in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC. Zuma, who governed the country as president for nearly a decade, was also the former president of the ANC, which ruled South Africa since 1994 without a coalition. The ANC, which liberated South Africans from white minority rule and racial segregation, used to secure more than 60% in all elections since 1994, barring 2019, when its parliamentary share dipped to 57.5%. But it lost its parliamentary majority in the May elections, getting 40% of the vote and receiving 159 seats of the 400-seat parliament. The party had to reach coalition deals with nine other political parties to form a government of national unity. In January, the ANC suspended Zuma, in what experts described as a sign of a growing rift between him and current President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma now has 21 days to appeal the judgment with the ANC’s National Committee of Appeal.

South Africa’s ANC expels ex-President Jacob Zuma Read More »