Former South Africa President Zuma is Expelled by His Former ANC Party After Forming a Challenger
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a significant political upheaval, former South African president Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, following the formation of his new political entity, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, or MK Party. This decision comes on the heels of the recent elections where the MK Party garnered nearly 15% of the national vote, positioning itself as the third largest party in South Africa.
The rise of the MK Party has had profound implications for the ANC, which has now lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. In response to this electoral setback, the ANC has entered into a coalition government with several other parties, including its primary opposition, the Democratic Alliance.
Zuma's expulsion was the culmination of a disciplinary hearing held last week, following his suspension from the ANC in January. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula announced that Zuma was found guilty of “prejudicing the integrity” of the ANC by leading a rival political party, which now holds 85 seats in the national parliament. Mbalula stated, “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. His conduct is irreconcilable with the spirit of organizational discipline and the letter of the ANC constitution.”
Despite his expulsion, Zuma has maintained that he remains a member of the ANC, asserting that he belongs to the “real” ANC, in stark contrast to the party led by current President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa took office in 2018 after Zuma was pressured to resign amid a series of corruption allegations that marred his presidency.
In response to his expulsion, the MK Party condemned the ANC's disciplinary actions, labeling them as a “kangaroo court.” This conflict highlights the deepening rift within South African politics, as Zuma's faction seeks to challenge the established order represented by the ANC and its current leadership.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of Zuma's expulsion and the rise of the MK Party will be closely watched, potentially reshaping the future of governance in South Africa.