African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says his ex-leader Jacob Zuma is in circus mode if he believes he can hold party memberships for both the ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which Zuma leads.
Mbalula confirmed that Zuma had appealed his dismissal from the ANC, a party he joined in 1959 and led as president for two terms. The former ruling party charged and suspended Zuma for contravening the party’s rules when he launched the MK Party on 16 December 2023 in Orlando, Soweto.
In his disciplinary hearing, Zuma was represented by ANC outcast Tony Yengeni and was eventually dismissed in July 2024.
JACOB ZUMA WANTS TO HAVE ANC AND MK PARTY MEMBERSHIPS
The South African previously reported that the ANC national disciplinary committee (NDC) had found Zuma “guilty of contravening Rule 25 of the ANC constitution for prejudicing the integrity or repute of the organisation by acting in collaboration with a registered political party, to wit the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which is not in alliance with the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, policies, and objectives of the ANC.”
During a media briefing on Tuesday, 29 October, Mbalula said Zuma is in circus mode and thinks having two memberships is a “joke”.
“That thing he calls an organisation is not an organisation, it’s a project. He doesn’t hold conferences and all of that, he knows. In our books, he’s not a member, he is appealing his expulsion from the ANC,” he said.
Initially, Zuma said he started the MK Party to save the ANC which polled below 50% in the 29 May elections for the first time since 1994 and support is likely to continue declining. However, it is not yet clear how he is planning to do this as the MK Party is not part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
In fact, it is the official opposition party in Parliament, and two parties have not partnered in any coalition in all spheres of government.
WHAT DOES THE MK PARTY CONSTITUTION SAY ABOUT DUAL MEMBERSHIP?
In its recently adopted constitution, the MK Party says except for highly exceptional and strategic circumstances and with the approval of the national officials and the high command, MK Party members are not allowed to be members of another political party, except organisations in formal alliances with itself.
It is unclear what the strategic circumstances could be in this instance and whether Zuma needed the approval of the MK Party’s national high command, since he seems to have veto powers over the organisation’s decisions, due to no elective conference being on the horizon.
The MK Party, it claims, wants to first ensure “maximum stability” and develop its following before it can elect leaders.
DO YOU THINK THERE’S A CHANCE THAT JACOB ZUMA WILL SUCCEED IN HIS QUEST TO HAVE BOTH ANC AND MK PARTY MEMBERSHIPS?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
