Zuma will always be a hindrance to the ANC: Analyst

Political analyst, Professor Sam Koma, says former President Jacob Zuma will remain an albatross around the ANC’s neck.

Zuma, who has been a member of the liberation movement for over 60 years, has furnished the ANC with a letter demanding that he be reinstated as a member of the party.

The move comes on a day that the ANC celebrates 113 years of existence.

Zuma has given the ANC until the end of this month to bring him back or face legal action.

MEDIA STATEMENT – 08 JANUARY2025 pic.twitter.com/EBZXThM1NQ

— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) January 8, 2025

The former president and now leader of the MK Party was expelled for contravening the party’s constitution by forming his political party while still an ANC card-carrying member.

His party, which is just over a year now, has shaken the country’s political landscape.

The MK Party is now the official opposition after the watershed May election results, which forced the ANC to form a Government of National Unity with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and various other political parties.

Professor Koma says the only forum that may entertain Zuma’s demand is the ANC’s National Conference that will take place in 2027.

“His expulsion was confirmed by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee, it means all internal avenues have been explored and exhausted. Zuma is very familiar with the ANC’s internal processes and procedures and he will always attempt to test the waters,” adds Koma.

Zuma maintains that the formation of the MK Party is to save, what he terms the real ANC from the ANC of Ramaphosa.

He says the ANC has become unrecognisable under the former trade unionist’s leadership.

Independent political analyst, Goodenough Mashego, believes Zuma’s letter was strategically aimed at shifting the attention from the January 8 celebration to himself.

He says the former president is very strategic with his dates, considering that he also announced his support for the MK Party on December 16th, 2023, a date that is important politically in the country.

“I don’t think Zuma wants to return to the ANC, because the ANC that he left is no longer the ANC that he will return to. It’s really to say let’s change the conversation, because the way Fikile Mbalula has been managing the ANC since Zuma made the announcement has been disastrous.”

ANC’s secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, has hit back at Zuma labelling him a liar and irresponsible.

He says Zuma’s days of misleading the people are numbered.

“The ANC will treat him with the same intensity of who he is going forward, so there’s nothing to respond to that letter. He must take us to court; he must do whatever he thinks is of importance to himself,” Mbalula adds.

“We know his shenanigans. We knew his game plan; we have followed the constitution to the latter; we will defend the integrity of our movement and its discipline.”

Mbalula says the ANC is now working on correcting and undoing the wrongs that were done under Zuma’s leadership, amongst others.

“Any ill discipline tendency will be dealt with.”

The ANC SG also took a jab at his MK Party counterpart, Floyd Shivambu, saying it’s unbelievable that today he believes Zuma’s lies.

ANC SG Fikile Mbalula Door Stop Interview at Robben Island. https://t.co/19oJd0w2Jq

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) January 8, 2025