In South Africa, former president Jacob Zuma can no longer officially claim to be a member of the ANC. The one who made a breakthrough during the last elections in May with his new political formation uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) saw his exclusion confirmed by his former party, Friday November 22, after the rejection of his appeal. It is a turning point in South African political history.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
Jacob Zuma had joined the party in 1959 then integrated its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe – a name which he also reused to baptize his recent political formation. In 1963, he was arrested for his activities and imprisoned for 10 years on Robben Island. And it was under the ANC banner that he was twice elected as head of the country, a presidency marked by corruption cases.
Its exclusion was therefore not taken lightly, but the historic party of Nelson Mandela believes he had no other choice. The support given to a rival formation represents “ the most serious form of indiscipline, and a direct attack on the historic mission of the ANC “, as the party wrote in a press release, adding that ” no individual is more important than our movement. »
Jacob Zuma is preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of his organization, the MK, which had a national score of 14% in the last elections, placing itself in third place. He himself was unable to be elected as an MP, due to a previous conviction, but he oversees the party which continues to gain ground on the other main opposition force, the EFF (Fighters for Freedom). Economic Freedom) by Julius Malema.
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