Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress after supporting a rival party in the parliamentary election in May, the ANC announced on Monday.
Zuma had been suspended from the party in January after declaring his allegiance to the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in the general election. He later emerged as the leader and public face of MK.
Surpassing expectations, MK secured around 15 percent of the vote in the election, significantly contributing to the ANC losing its majority for the first time since the apartheid era ended.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula stated, “Former President Jacob Zuma has actively undermined the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to remove the ANC from power, all while maintaining that he had not severed ties with the party. This behavior goes against the principles of organizational discipline and the ANC Constitution.”
The ANC obtained 40.18 percent of the vote in the election, a decrease from the 57.50 percent it received in 2019, leading to the necessity of forming a coalition government for the first time since the end of apartheid. As a result, MK is now the official opposition.
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In response to media reports of Zuma’s expulsion, MK released a statement earlier on Monday criticizing the ANC’s procedures and condemning the “grave injustices” against Zuma.
The statement mentioned, “President Zuma will consult with his legal team to promptly determine the next steps.”
The ANC announced that Zuma has 21 days to appeal the decision.
Zuma, whose presidency from 2009 was marred by corruption scandals and economic challenges, has been in conflict with the ANC leadership since stepping down as party leader in 2018. He has frequently criticized his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa.
