APA-Pretoria (South Africa) 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.
NM/jn/APA