Jacob Zuma, South Africa's president, reacts as he attends the launch of a new trans Africa locomotive at the Transnet SOC Ltd. engineering site in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Zuma’s shock decision to fire his finance minister and stack his cabinet with loyalists may have seemed like good politics, but it’s led to an immediate downgrade of the nation’s credit rating by S&P Global Ratings that will cost an already moribund economy dearly. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

Hartford: ANC’s 2024 troubles multiply – Zuma announces support for challenger party

Jacob Zuma is set to announce a spectacular comeback - probably as the leader of a recently formed political party that will challenge the ANC in the 2024 Election.

Published on:

15 Dec 2023, 2:33 pm

As former President Zuma contemplates departing from the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa appears poised for a political earthquake. The announcement, set to be made in Soweto tomorrow (Saturday, Dec 16), has the potential to dramatically weaken the already labouring ANC as it heads into next year's elections. Zuma personifies the radical economic transformation (RET) faction, which has a tumultuous history with current President Cyril Ramaphosa. Although details of tomorrow's announcement have been kept tight, odds favour Zuma named as leader of a new, well-named political entity registered with the IEC three months ago to content the national elections in 2024. However, it could be possible that the King of Nkandla decides to throw his weight behind the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Either way, the former president, whose popularity remains exceptionally high in his home province of KZN, will surely draw many votes away from the ANC.

UPDATE:

In a significant political development, former president Jacob Zuma announced he would not be voting for the ANC but for a new party, the Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) Party, in the 2024 elections in South Africa. In a speech in Soweo on Saturday, this announcement was made, he said, after consultations with various societal leaders, including religious and traditional leaders, former combatants, and leaders of about 10 registered progressive political parties. He said these discussions aim to foster unity among historically oppressed and dispossessed groups in South Africa.

The MK Party seeks to address issues of land ownership, justice, and economic freedom, advocating for the return of land to its rightful African owners. The party emphasizes unity and collective effort in overcoming the current socio-economic crisis, drawing inspiration from the struggle against Apartheid. A Patriotic Front and a voting bloc are being discussed, focusing on a 10-point consensus program to navigate the crisis.

The party's approach marks a shift from violent resistance to democratic participation, using the ballot instead of the bullet. This change is attributed to the sacrifices of past freedom fighters, signalling a peaceful revolution for radical change. The MK Party's formal launch and its leadership announcement will occur in early 2024, amidst discussions on black unity and the Patriotic Front. The party's formation and strategy reflect a renewed commitment to addressing long-standing socio-economic disparities in South Africa.

By Dirk Hartford

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