By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed the suspension of former president Jacob Zuma as a party member.
Mbalula addressed the media on Monday after the party’s national executive committee meeting.
The move follows Zuma’s announcement in December that he would not campaign or vote for the ANC in this year’s hotly contested general elections.
Instead, he has thrown his weight behind the newly formed MK Party.
Zuma, however, said he would remain a member of the ANC.
Mbalula said the decision was made on Sunday evening and ratified by the NEC on Monday morning.
He said that the decision was unanimous and that it had not been a “contentious issue” as even those once aligned with Zuma agreed that he had crossed the line.
Mbalula said the ANC’s constitution allows for the immediate suspension of a member when circumstances allow.
“Former president Jacob Zuma is actively impugning the integrity of the ANC and campaigning to dislodge the ANC from power while claiming that he has not terminated his membership. This conduct is irreconcilable with the spirit of organisational discipline and letter of the ANC Constitution.”
Mbalula said the NEC decided to invoke Rule 25.60 of the ANC Constitution, which states, “if justifiable exceptional circumstances warrant an immediate decision of temporary suspension of a member without eliciting the comment or response of such member as contemplated above, the NEC, the NWC, the PEC or the PWC, as the case may be, may summarily suspend such member”.
“The ANC is willing, able and ready to defend the gains of freedom and our constitutional democracy. Accordingly, we call on ANC members, our alliance partners, and all South Africans to reject the agenda of the JZ-party project and all other divisive, anti-transformation and counter-revolutionary projects aimed at derailing the forward march to a National Democratic Society.”
Mbalula said the ANC had not taken long to take action against Zuma, as some had believed. Nor had the former president shown any sign of wanting to reconcile with the ANC regarding his frustrations with the party before campaigning for the MK.
“When someone is disruptive… you rally your forces, your observe their activities and the determination of an individual to get somewhere with what they have announced.”
“Zuma’s nine years as president, from 2009, were dogged by scandal, added Mbalula.
Zuma also faces corruption charges over a 1999 arms deal. He denies wrongdoing in all cases.
Despite these issues, the ANC had tolerated Zuma, but the creation of a new party that may pose a threat was deemed a step too far.
Zuma, 81, had been a lifelong member of the ANC.
He joined aged 17 with no formal schooling and soon rose through the ranks of the ANC’s military and intelligence wings, followed by top posts in his home state of Kwa-Zulu Natal and ultimately the deputy presidency and presidency.
Analysts say this year’s election is viewed by many as the most competitive since the ANC came to power in 1994, which the ANC is facing its toughest election this year amid rising levels of poverty and unemployment. The party once led by Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela is dogged by corruption allegations and accusations that it has failed to deliver a better life for millions of poor.
Some polls suggest it may dip below 50% of the national vote for the first time, which would force it to enter into a coalition to retain president Cyril Ramaphosa as president. The ANC has been in government with a clear majority since the end of apartheid 30 years ago but its popularity has steadily declined.
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