ANC expels Jacob Zuma amid rival party campaign controversy
South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, after campaigning for a rival party in the 29 May general election, local media reports.
The ANC’s disciplinary committee found him guilty of “prejudicing the integrity” of the party by joining uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and has given him three weeks to appeal against its ruling, according to a leaked ANC document cited by local media.
The ANC has not officially confirmed his expulsion, while MK stated that Mr. Zuma had not been notified of the decision taken by what it called a “kangaroo court.” Mr. Zuma, 82, a veteran of the ANC, fell out with the party after being forced to resign as president in 2018 over corruption scandals, which he has consistently denied.
In January, he was suspended by the ANC after forming MK, which now opposes the ANC-led government in parliament. In a statement, MK expressed shock at learning of Mr. Zuma’s expulsion from media reports, criticizing the disciplinary proceedings as being conducted in a manner “akin to a kangaroo court.”
MK emphasized the legal principle that no person should be punished or sentenced in their absence. The ANC’s disciplinary committee held a virtual hearing, which Mr. Zuma refused to attend, insisting on being physically present.
In 2021, Zuma was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to fully cooperate with an inquiry into corruption during his nine-year presidency, leading to the deadliest riots since the end of apartheid in 1994 and resulting in over 300 deaths. He now faces corruption charges over a 1999 arms deal.
South Africa’s current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, replaced Zuma in 2018, pledging to clean up the government. However, in the 29 May elections, the ANC suffered its worst result in 30 years, forcing the ruling party into a coalition.
MK, meaning “spear of the nation,” emerged as the country’s third-largest party by siphoning votes from the ANC, winning nearly 15% of the vote and securing 58 seats in the 400-member parliament. MK became the official opposition after the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party, joined the coalition government.
Zuma is barred from being an MP due to a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court. He has appointed an ex-judge, impeached for gross misconduct, to lead MK in parliament.
Source: Reuters
