Durban — The rise of the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has led to the fall of the ANC from political grace, dropping from 57% to 40% in the May elections after enjoying an outright majority since 1994.
The ANC dropped the axe on Zuma on Sunday after he was charged with contravening the party’s constitution following his jumping ship in December and joining, and campaigning for, the MKP.
Zuma, who led the ANC for 10 years (2007 to 2017), was yet to indicate whether he would appeal against his expulsion from the ANC, which was formed in 1912 with John Langalibalele Dube becoming the first president of the party.
The ANC’s first deputy-secretary Nomvula Mokonyane recently conceded that Zuma’s departure from the ANC had left the party reeling.
“We can’t hide from the fact that the departure of our comrade (Zuma) caused a dent in our election performance,” said Mokonyane.
She expressed this sentiment when she visited KwaZulu-Natal, including eThekwini, the party’s biggest region with 111 branches, recently as the ANC embarked on a post-election assessment.
The MKP came out guns blazing and labelled Zuma’s ANC disciplinary hearing a “kangaroo court”.
“uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), on behalf of (former) president Jacob Zuma, expresses profound shock and dismay upon learning from media sources about an alleged leak from the ANC national disciplinary committee,” said MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela.
His statement added: “It is a foundational legal principle that no individual, not even those accused of serious crimes, should be punished or sentenced in their absence. This principle is designed to protect against miscarriages of injustice, which sadly, this scenario closely mirrors, resembling a trial conducted through the media.”
The MKP vowed that: “The uMkhonto weSizwe will not passively watch as these grave injustices against its leader (Zuma) unfold. President Zuma will engage his legal team to urgently determine a course of action and ensure that justice is served.
“Upon the conclusion of such consultations, president Zuma will announce further actions based on the guidance of these consultations,” read the statement.
Zuma joined the ANC when he was 17 years old. He is yet to publicly announce his next move.
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