Former South African President Zuma withdraws his support of the ANC ahead of general elections

Advocate Modidima Mannya, speaking to Newzroom Afrika, stressed that as a member of the African National Congress, former South African President Jacob Zuma is obligated to follow the party’s constitution. This follows Mr. Zuma’s withdrawal of support for the ANC in the upcoming general elections.

The ANC currently faces challenges, with recent polls suggesting it may secure less than 50% of next year’s votes, potentially leading to the need for a coalition government to retain power.

Mr. Zuma, maintaining that the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa represent “white monopoly capital,” announced his support for the newly formed Umkhonto we Sizwe party, named after the ANC’s disbanded military wing.

According to SA TV news outlet eNCA, the ANC has acknowledged Mr. Zuma’s announcement that he will not vote or campaign for the party in the upcoming general election. Party president Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the right of every South African to choose their preferred candidate. While not disclosing specific actions, he noted that Zuma’s announcement has been duly noted.

Seperately, former South African President Thabo Mbeki has reaffirmed his decision not to campaign for the ANC in the upcoming elections. Mr. Mbeki’s position aligns with that of former President Zuma, making him SA’s second former President to publicly denounce support for the ANC in the elections.