- Tensions escalate as Zuma clashes with MK founder Khumalo.
- Support for MK fluctuates ahead of anticipated election in South Africa.
- ANC postpones disciplinary hearing amid security concerns.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma is encountering an internal challenge to his leadership roles within his newly formed party, as reported by state broadcaster SABC on Tuesday, just three weeks before an anticipated election where he is poised to garner substantial support.
Zuma, a figure known for his divisive presence in South African politics, held the presidency from 2009 until 2018, when he was compelled to resign amidst a series of corruption scandals that tarnished his administration’s reputation.
Expressing open hostility towards his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zuma declared in December that he would not cast his vote for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), his long-time political affiliation, in the upcoming May 29 election. Instead, he threw his support behind the newly established party uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
As polls indicate a potential loss of majority for the ANC, a scenario unprecedented since its ascendancy to power in 1994, smaller parties like MK could wield significant influence post-election, especially if the ANC seeks coalition partners.
Since Zuma’s endorsement, polls have shown support for MK fluctuating between 8% and 13%. Despite remaining a member of the ANC, Zuma has emerged as the prominent face of MK.
However, tensions escalated when Zuma clashed with MK founder Jabulani Khumalo, resulting in Khumalo’s expulsion from the party. In response, Khumalo petitioned the electoral commission, contesting Zuma’s legitimacy as MK’s leader and demanding his exclusion from ballot papers, according to SABC.
A spokesperson for MK affirmed Zuma’s position as the party’s president and clarified Khumalo’s expulsion. The electoral commission, refraining from intervening in internal party disputes, confirmed Zuma’s status as MK’s registered leader since April 10.
The decision by the ANC to postpone Zuma’s disciplinary hearing, originally scheduled for this week, underscores the perceived potential for disruption posed by Zuma, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where protests erupted in 2021 following his imprisonment for defiance of a corruption inquiry.
Named after the ANC’s former armed wing during the apartheid era, MK continues to navigate its path amidst internal conflicts and external pressures, with Zuma at its helm, poised to exert his influence on South African politics.
