The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal has upheld a decision to expel former President Jacob Zuma from the party. This was confirmed by the party last night in a media statement. After being found guilty of violating the ANC's regulations by openly supporting the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which he established last year in advance of the May 2024 elections, Zuma was expelled from the party in July.
EXPULSION UPHELD
After his expulsion from the party in July, Zuma instructed his representative and ANC stalwart Tony Yengeni to appeal the decision taken with the party's National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal. In a statement last night, spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal upheld the decision of the National Disciplinary Committee to expel Zuma from the party. "The decision reaffirms the ANC's commitment to revolutionary morality, revolutionary discipline, and democratic centralism. Discipline is a core foundation of our movement, ensuring unity of purpose and unity in action," Bhengu said. She said that Zuma's behaviour exemplified the highest form of ill-discipline and a direct assault on the historical mission of the party. "By establishing and leading a rival political party, he abandoned the core values of organisational loyalty and collective accountability, converting himself into a tool for destabilisation," she added.
HE ABANDONED CORE VALUES OF THE ORGANISTION
Bhengu added that by establishing and leading a rival political party, Zuma abandoned the core values of organisational loyalty and collective accountability, converting himself into a tool for destabilisation. "As a former president of the ANC, Mr. Zuma was expected to embody the highest standards of disciplined leadership and advanced cadres who serve as guides and inspiration for all members of our movement and society. Instead, his actions have undermined the unity and cohesion of the movement at a time when it is critical to consolidate and push forward with organisational renewal and confront the pressing challenges facing South Africa. This severe breach of our organisational foundation necessitated his expulsion to safeguard the ANC's integrity and ensure that the unity of the organisation remains in form and content," he added. At only five months old at the time of the general elections in May, the MK Party became the official opposition in the National Assembly. The party will be celebrating its first anniversary next month.