By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former President Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) after the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) found him guilty of prejudicing the integrity of the party.
Zuma faced two charges, both of which relate to the MK party, for which he announced he would campaign in December 2023, five months before the 29 May general elections.
Zuma was charged for contravening rule 25.17.17.4 of the ANC’s constitution, by acting “on behalf of or in collaboration with a political organisation or party other than an organisation or party in the alliance of the ANC in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC”.
He was also charged for contraveing rule 25.17.13 for “joining or supporting a political organisation or party other than an organisation in alliance with the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, objectives and policy of the ANC”.
Last week, Zuma was a no-show at the first virtual meeting. Instead, he sent his ally, Tony Yengeni, to represent him and persuade the NDC to have the hearing in-person, a demand the ANC vehemently rejected.
The NDC has the jurisdiction to expel from the ANC any member who they find is in contravention of rule 25 of the party’s constitution. It may impose penalties or sanctions for “proven violations of the constitution, other relevant instruments, principles, norms, policies and decisions of the ANC”.
“The charged member [Zuma] is found guilty of contravening Rule 25.17.17.4 of the ANC Constitution, read with subsection (2), for prejudicing the integrity or repute of the Organisation by acting in collaboration with a registered political party … the uMkhonto We Sizwe Party, which is not in alliance with the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC.” read the leaked verdict.
“The charged member is expelled from the ANC. The charged member has the right to appeal to the National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal within 21 days,” read the statement.
The leaked document shows that five members of the party’s NDC voted in favour of Zuma’s expulsion. While the NDC includes seven members, it’s not clear that all were present.
ANC NDC and National Executive Committee members Faith Muthambi and Nocawe Mafu voted in favour of expelling Zuma, alongside NDC members Robinson Ramaite, Vusi Pikoli and Kerensa Millard.
The dismissal makes Zuma the first party’s former president to be booted out of the ANC. He is also the first former ANC president to start a political party to compete with the party in the elections.
In the 2024 provincial and national elections, the MK party overtook the EFF as the third-largest party nationally and won the highest share of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal.