Cape Town — The leader of the ANC KZN, Bheki Mtolo, has criticised former President, Jacob Zuma, and his new UmKhonto WeSizwe (MK) party, labelling it as a fake MK, adding that Zuma has officially divorced the party.
Mtolo said that people should not be tricked into thinking that the new MK party is the same one that Zuma said he would vote for, adding that it was not the same MK that was established as the ANC military wing in 1961 as the party struggled against the Apartheid regime, IOL reported.
He said this while addressing the media on Monday.
This was after Zuma said that he would not vote for the ANC next year, but instead his newly-affiliated MK party.
Mtolo said people must not be misled by Zuma’s comments that this was a genuine MK.
“For you to join uMkhonto weSizwe, the first step is that you must be a guerrilla of uMkhonto weSizwe – you should’ve gone underground, you should know your camp at exile,” he said.
“Now, for this one, they recruit anyone. Even my child, who was born in 2000, can be part of this new uMkhonto weSizwe. This is a clear sign that this is not a true uMkhonto weSizwe, it’s a fake uMkhonto weSizwe,” Mtolo said.
He added: “Members of the real MK will campaign with the ANC in KZN to retain the province.”
[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
According to TimesLIVE, Mtolo said that Zuma’s decision was like serving “divorce papers” to the party when he said he would not vote or campaign for the ANC any longer, suing the analogy of a married couple .
“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,” Mtolo said.
Mloto said Zuma’s statement to vote for the MK instead was “de-campaigning the ANC” and that the ANC met on Monday to discuss Zuma’s new announcement, Mtolo also described Zuma’s action as a gross ill-discipline.
“Former and current leaders of the ANC have publicly raised concerns about the shortcomings of ANC leaders at all levels. There have been concerns as well about the quality of our membership,” he said.
“However, it should be noted with concern this is the first time in 111 years of the ANC’s existence that a former president and leader of our movement announces publicly his decision to vote for another party and effectively campaign for that party which we view as divorcing the ANC and leaving the ANC for another political formation,” he added.
Highly respected KZN ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo has officially confirmed that Jacob Zuma’s actions amounts to a FULL DIVORCE from The ANC. He also accused Zuma of “ GROSS INDISCIPLINE”
He also confirmed that Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe is FAKE. These are big blows…— Goolam (@goolammv) December 18, 2023
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@Sli_Masikane
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
