After declaring in January that he would back the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in the general election, Zuma faced suspension from his long-standing party. Later on, he emerged as MK’s face and commander.
For the first time since the apartheid era, the ANC lost its majority as a result of MK’s stronger than anticipated performance in the poll, which saw her garner almost 15% of the vote
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told the media, “Former President Jacob Zuma has actively impugned the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to dislodge the ANC from power, while claiming that he had not severed his membership.”
“This conduct is irreconcilable with the spirit of organisational discipline and letter of the ANC Constitution.
“The African National Congress (ANC) entered a coalition government for the first time since taking power at the end of white minority rule in 1994 after receiving 40.18% of the vote in the election, down from 57.50% in 2019. The formal opposition is currently MK.
In a statement released earlier on Monday, MK addressed media reports that Zuma had been ousted, denouncing “grave injustices” against Zuma and criticizing the ANC’s procedure.
“President Zuma will engage his legal team to urgently determine the course of action,” added the statement.
According to the ANC, Zuma has 21 days to file an appeal of the ruling.
Since he was forced to resign as party leader in 2018, Zuma, whose nine years in office starting in 2009 were characterized by corruption scandals and slow economic progress, has been at war with the ANC’s leadership. He has frequently retaliated against President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded him.
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