Cape Town – The ANC (African National Congress) in KwaZulu-Natal has responded to former president Jacob Zuma’s announcement that he will neither vote for nor campaign for the ANC in the upcoming general elections.
The ANC KZN secretary, Bheki Mtolo, likened Zuma’s actions to a divorce, saying that when one’s spouse is already committed to someone else, there’s no need for divorce.
“When you are married and your wife says ‘I still love you’ but is married to another man, there’s no need for divorce, she has already divorced you. Then you would be engaging in a futile exercise, she has already chosen her path,” said Mtolo stated, in response to an inquiry about whether they would advocate for Zuma’s expulsion
The ANC and allied organisations, including Cosatu and the SA Communist Party, addressed the media on Monday, expressing concern that Zuma’s endorsement of a new party called Umkhonto we Sizwe amounted to “decampaigning” the ANC.
Mtolo called Zuma’s actions gross ill-discipline and noted that it’s the first time in the ANC’s 111-year history that a former president publicly announced support for another party.
[WATCH] “It’s a party disguised to lure voters and loyal members of the ANC to think it is the same thing that was formed by the ANC.” – KZN ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo on the new uMkhonto we Sizwe Party endorsed by former president Jacob Zuma to contest elections.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/nNHyLesFoN
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 18, 2023
The ANC leadership met to discuss Zuma’s announcement, acknowledging past concerns about the party’s weaknesses.
Mtolo said that Zuma’s MK Party is not the same as the original MK formed by the ANC in 1961 during the apartheid era.
He warned against being deceived, saying that the new MK party can recruit anyone, even children born in the 2000s.
Mtolo said that the intentions of Zuma’s party do not align with the ANC’s objectives and principles.
He also announced that members of the real MK will campaign with the ANC in KZN to retain the province, despite Zuma’s decision not to vote for the ANC in the upcoming elections.
WATCH: The provincial secretary of the ANC in KZN, Bheki Mtolo, commenting on the newly unveiled MK Party. This was during a media briefing in Durban today. pic.twitter.com/MI9m570QBK
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) December 18, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
