Former South African president and current uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader, Jacob Zuma, has launched a legal bid to have his African National Congress (ANC) membership reinstated. Zuma, who now leads a party that directly challenges the ANC, filed a court application against President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC itself, claiming his expulsion from the ruling party was unlawful.
Zuma’s membership, which spanned over 65 years, was terminated last year after he formed and led the MK Party into the 2024 general elections. The ANC cited gross misconduct and a violation of party discipline as reasons for Zuma’s removal, stating that creating a rival political party was a direct betrayal of ANC principles and unity. According to ANC leadership, Zuma’s actions undermined the party’s integrity, and his expulsion was necessary to protect its foundational values.
However, Zuma and his supporters see things differently. In a statement released on Thursday, the MK Party strongly defended its president, accusing the ANC of “sell-out tendencies” and betraying its revolutionary origins. The party timed the court filing for June 26, marking the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter — a significant symbol of the ANC’s historic commitment to liberation and justice — in a move designed to highlight what it sees as the ANC’s current ideological failings.
“The ANC betrayed the people by entering a so-called Government of National Unity with the right-wing DA and Freedom Front Plus,” said the MK Party. They argue that Zuma’s struggle for dual membership is not only legal but also strategic in achieving “total liberation” for South Africans.
Interestingly, the MK Party’s own constitution does allow for dual membership, though only under special and strategic conditions. While this typically applies to formal allies of the MK Party, Zuma’s unique case is seen as one such exception. The party has openly endorsed his efforts to reclaim ANC membership, viewing it as a move to unite previously divided liberation forces and continue the fight for land reform and economic justice.
“The president’s fight for dual membership is fully supported,” the MK Party’s statement added. “We believe that unity among our people — even by extraordinary means — is the only way to achieve victory in the struggle for total liberation in our country, across Africa, and within the global diaspora.”
The legal challenge is expected to stir controversy within both political and public spheres. Some see Zuma’s actions as an attempt to destabilize the ANC from the outside while clinging to its legacy for personal political gain. Others view it as a sincere effort to reclaim the movement’s revolutionary path, which Zuma claims has been compromised by current leadership.
The outcome of this court battle could set a major political precedent in South Africa, especially as the country navigates a complex and divided post-election landscape.
Whether Zuma is fighting for justice or seeking to maintain influence remains a polarizing question — one that South Africans continue to debate passionately.