Former ANC and SA State President Jacob Zuma has ditched his political home, the ANC, a few months before the 2024 general elections during which the ruling party is expected to shed votes and likely to be removed from political power. Zuma who arrived an hour late from his scheduled and much-anticipated press briefing where he had indicated, he was to announce his political career, dropped a bombshell revealing that he was leaving the ANC, an organization that he led for many years, having risen from the ranks to become the party's leader and ultimately State President for two terms. 

ZUMA'S NEW PARTY CALLED UMKHONTO WE SIZWE 

Announcing his new party, Umkhonto We Sizwe, the name already used by the ANC's arms wing, Zuma said it was high time that ANC members and South Africans admit that they must either fight or submit, stating that they shouldn't allow the status quo to continue. The former President's press briefing had aroused much interest and speculation from political analysts and SA citizens alike, with some alleging that the former ANC leader was about to announce his membership with the third biggest political party, the EFF, led by former ANC youth league president Julius Malema. This speculation emerged following the announcement of Carl Niehaus, the former ANC member and MKMVA Veterans League spokesperson, who had earlier this week stated his political party called ARETA together with his supporters were joining the EFF, two days before Zuma's supposed announcement. However, Zuma dropped a bigger bombshell announcing that he was starting his political party called Umkhonto We Sizwe. 

ZUMA? 'S DAUGHTER DUDUZILE JOINS HER FATHER 

Zuma was flanked by his daughter Duduzile Zuma, during the address, already secured her as a member of the new party and he appeared to have also won some members from the Veterans League who had flanked him on the stage and the audience. Explaining his reasons for the ANC exit, the former President said the 'ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa' had lost its way and was no longer representing the interests of the people, but those of the few minorities. This, he said was because the traditional leaders were no longer taken seriously and respected the way they should as the most important component of the SA society. He said the current government and the ANC were now leading the traditional leaders instead of consulting with them and getting matching orders from them. He accused the ANC, led by current secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and Ramaphosa as President of undermining their members and ill-treating them. 

ANC FOCUSED ON PURGING AND EXPELLING OWN MEMBERS 

This he said was because the party was now preoccupied with purging and expelling members who don't agree with the current leadership, forgetting that the same membership was the backbone of the party, and now individual leaders. The announcement appears to have not come as a shock to the ANC, as Mbalula had already hinted that they were going to challenge the party's name in court, arguing that Zuma's new party's name was stolen from the ruling party. 

ZUMA PARTY ALREADY REGISTERED WITH IEC 

Zuma, during the announcement, said his new party was already registered with the Independent Electoral Commission to contest the next general elections. He said the new party was going to provide more information about the party's leadership at a later stage stating that an interim structure would be established to run the party and provinces with Zuma as its leader.