Former South African President Jacob Zuma Expelled from ANC
In a dramatic turn of events, former South African President Jacob Zuma has been formally expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) party. The news comes as a surprise, given Zuma’s earlier denouncement of the ANC and his subsequent leadership of the MK party to a third-place finish in the parliamentary polls.
ANC Secretary General Criticizes Zuma’s Attitude
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula criticized Zuma’s attitude, stating, "We don’t know why you have a party and then you argue for your membership, when you have taken a conscious decision to leave the ANC. You have impugned the integrity of the ANC."
Mbalula also lashed out at Zuma, blaming him for the party’s poor performance in the polls. "You have done everything. You have brought us below 40%, I mean, below 50% and we are grappling with that now. So all of those things have happened. We are dealing with the consequence of Jacob Zuma’s actions."
Zuma Remains Defiant
Zuma, however, remains defiant and has denied any wrongdoing. His MK party has denounced the expulsion, accusing the ANC’s disciplinary committee of behaving like a "kangaroo court." The party alleges that neither Zuma nor his designated representative was informed of the ruling, violating the ANC’s constitution.
Background on Zuma’s Expulsion
Zuma joined the ANC Youth League in 1959 and rose through the ranks to become the party leader. After leaving office, he retained a strong political capital, despite being suspended from the party in January. The ANC’s disciplinary committee decided to expel him on Monday, citing his breach of party rules and constitution.
Conclusion
Jacob Zuma’s expulsion from the ANC is a significant development in South African politics, given his former position as President and his continued influence in the country. The outcome is likely to have far-reaching implications for the ANC and the country as a whole.
