South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has expelled former president Jacob Zuma who has over the past seven months insisted he is still an ANC member despite fronting another party that contested in polls held two months ago.
The state-run South African Broadcasting Corporation reported late Sunday that it was in possession of documents confirming Zuma’s expulsion, though the ANC has yet to issue an official statement.
The public broadcaster said the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee found Zuma guilty of undermining the party’s integrity by collaborating with uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party contrary to the ANC’s aims and policies.
Zuma campaigned for MK party, which secured 58 seats in the May parliamentary elections.
Despite claiming to be an ANC member, the former president was ironically touted as MK president and was the face on the party’s logo that appeared on ballot papers.
Zuma, who led South Africa for nearly a decade and previously served as ANC president, has faced increasing tensions with current President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The ANC, which has ruled since 1994, saw its parliamentary majority slip in the recent elections, securing only 40 percent of the vote and forming a coalition government.
In January, Zuma was suspended by the ANC, signalling a growing rift within the party.
He now has three weeks to appeal the expulsion with the ANC’s National Committee of Appeal.
JN/APA