ANC suspends Zuma for endorsing uMkhonto we Sizwe with immediate effect

By: Natasha Archary

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that former President Jacob Zuma has been suspended from the party with immediate effect.

This follows Zuma’s campaigning and endorsement of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party).

On Monday, 29 January, Mbalula briefed the media on the ANC’s decision regarding Zuma, stating that the ANC National Executive Committee has ruled that Zuma’s actions were counter-revolutionary.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) during it’s ordinary meeting held between 26 to 29 January, resolved to invoke rule 25, point 60 of the ANC Constitution, I quote, ‘if justifiable, exceptional circumstances warrant an immediate decision of temporary suspension of a member without illiciting the comment or response of such member, as contemplated above, the NEC, the National Working Committee (NWC), the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), the Provincial Working Committee (PWC), as the case may be can summarily suspend such member close quote.’

The NEC concluded that exceptional circumstances exist to justify and warrant an immediate decision to suspend former ANC President Jacob Zuma in line with rule 25 point 60.”

Addressing media at the party’s Lekgotla in Boksburg, Mbalula said Zuma’s endorsing of the MK Party was a deliberate attempt to use the history of the armed struggle against the apartheid regime to give creditability to a blatantly counter revolutionary agenda.

Mbalula said the ANC is disappointed by Zuma’s actions, and never has a former President left in such a manner.

Zuma’s suspension from the party comes with immediate effect, and due to the nature of the reasons for his suspension, the former President will not be given 48-hours to respond to the NEC’s decision.

Listen to the conversation on Point of View:

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