Former South African President Jacob Zuma has reportedly been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) after campaigning for a rival party during the 29 May general election.
According to local media, the ANC’s disciplinary committee found him guilty of “prejudicing the integrity” of the party by joining uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), giving him three weeks to appeal the decision, as stated in a leaked ANC document.
The ANC has not officially confirmed his expulsion, while MK noted that Zuma had not been informed of the ruling made by what they termed a “kangaroo court.” At 82, Zuma is a veteran of the ANC but fell out with the party after resigning as president in 2018 amid corruption scandals, which he has consistently denied.
Zuma was suspended by the ANC in January after forming MK, which now opposes the ANC-led government in parliament. In a statement, MK expressed shock at the reports of Zuma’s expulsion, criticizing the disciplinary process as resembling a “kangaroo court.” They asserted that a foundational legal principle dictates that no individual should be punished or sentenced in their absence.
The ANC’s disciplinary committee conducted a virtual hearing, which Zuma declined to attend, insisting on being present in person. In 2021, he was imprisoned for contempt of court after refusing to cooperate with a corruption inquiry from his nine-year presidency, an arrest that triggered South Africa’s deadliest riots since the end of apartheid, resulting in over 300 deaths.
He is currently facing corruption charges related to a 1999 arms deal.
Cyril Ramaphosa succeeded Zuma as president in 2018, vowing to restore integrity to the government. However, in the recent elections, the ANC achieved its worst results in three decades, leading the ruling party to form a coalition government. MK emerged as the third-largest party, capturing nearly 15% of the vote and securing 58 seats in the 400-member parliament.
Zuma claims the election results were rigged and is demanding their annulment. Following the elections, MK announced plans to join an opposition alliance in parliament.
