South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) says former president Jacob Zuma is no longer its member after he “automatically expelled himself” after announcing he now supports the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Addressing party supporters in Barberton on Sunday, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said Zuma had “automatically expelled himself” in view of his December 2023 statement in which he said he would not campaign or vote for the ANC in this year’s general elections because he had thrown his full weight behind the MK party.
Mbalula said if Zuma had issues with the leadership of the ANC he should have properly addressed them through the right channels within the organisation.
“We didn’t want him to go. We are shocked but not surprised when a former president of the ANC takes such a decision,” Mbalula said.
He said the ANC would not subject Zuma to a disciplinary hearing over his remarks.
“The ANC didn’t expel Jacob Zuma,” he said.
He added: “He has expelled himself. And his interpretation that he is still an ANC member till he dies – and is not leaving – is his own interpretation.
Mbalula revealed that the ANC would on Monday approach the courts to attempt to reclaim the uMkhonto weSizwe name. uMkhonto weSizwe was the armed wing of the ANC during South Africa’s liberation struggle and the party claims that it has sole rights to that name.
Ramaphosa confident of easy ANC victory in 2024 poll
President Cyril Ramaphosa is confident that the governing African National Congress (ANC) will cruise to an easy victory in this year’s South African general elections because the party “overcome 342 years of colonialism and apartheid” to liberate the country.
Addressing the party’s 112th anniversary celebrations in Mbombela in Mpumalanga province on Monday, Ramaphosa said those who thought the ANC could be “airbrushed out of existence or removed” from government were dreaming.
“That is not going to happen,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “It’s just dreams because the ANC, which has led this process (of liberation), has embedded itself in the hearts and minds of our people – and through trial and tribulation.”
Ramaphosa said “through the ups and downs, we were able to prevail as the ANC – and we were able to finally overcome the 342 years of colonialism and apartheid.”
And the party’s role in the fight against apartheid which led to the 1994 democratic elections was characterised “as a breakthrough – and not as a victory — because it was a beach-head moment,” he said.
The president said the ANC mission to better the lives of South Africans was continuing and those who underestimated the party would be surprised.
“We have reached a point where now we can march together to register greater achievements as we move on to improve the lives of our people,” Ramaphosa said.
In the past 30 years, the ANC-led government has changed South Africa from what it was in 1994 for the better.
“Whether they like it or not, the ANC has changed this country,” he said, adding that much, however, remained to be done.
