Former President Zuma expelled from South Africa’s ruling ANC

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa | Xinhua | The African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa on Monday confirmed that the country’s former president, Jacob Zuma, has been expelled from the party after contravening the constitution.

Fikile Mbalula, the party’s secretary-general, announced that the National Disciplinary Committee of the ANC found Zuma guilty of contravening the constitution by prejudicing the integrity of the ANC through “acting in collaboration with a registered political party.”

“The charged member is expelled from the ANC,” said Mbalula at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa.

Mbalula added that Zuma could appeal his expulsion within 21 days.

The issue began in December when Zuma announced that he would support the newly established uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in the May 2024 general elections. The ANC suspended Zuma’s membership in January and took him to its disciplinary committee. The formation of the MK Party, which garnered more than 14 percent of the vote in the elections, led to the ANC’s loss of its majority for the first time since 1994.

Mbalula also said Zuma’s negative remarks about the judiciary and other state organs had damaged the ANC’s credibility.

“Former President Zuma has been running on a dangerous platform that casts doubt on our entire constitutional edifice. He has meted out a host of anti-revolutionary outbursts, including mischievously calling into question the credibility of our electoral processes without cause and discrediting the rationale of our judicial system,” Mbalula said.

Zuma became the ANC’s president in 2007 following the party’s elective congress and later served as South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018 when he was recalled before completing his term. In July 2021, Zuma was jailed for contempt of court after failing to comply with a court order to appear before the state capture inquiry, which investigated widespread corruption and malfeasance that occurred during his administration.

The MK Party has complained about how Zuma’s disciplinary process was conducted, comparing it to a “kangaroo court.” It added that Zuma will consult his lawyers about the next course of action he will take. ■