The past weekend was one for the books in the South African politics, this is after former president Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma announced that he was withdrawing his support for his political party ANC in the 2024 nation elections.
He also announced his new home, a political party called uMkhonto Wesizwe in the same breath announcing he was still an ANC member.
In a press conference with his daughter Duduzile Zuma by his side reading his statement, the Mshini Wam singer detailed:
“We need to nurse the ANC and bring it back to the organisation that we know, trust and love. This requires drastic action. Before stating what it is that we’re going to do to rescue the ANC and instil the ANC vision let me tabulate a few of the current pressing issues of which I base my distrust of the current ANC of Ramaphosa as a proxy of white monopoly capital which must be distinguished from the real ANC.”
A happy noise with loud hand claps arose from the crowd after Duduzile read the few lines of her father’s statement. The former president’s distrust of the ANC leadership ranged from the party expelling former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule to the deaths of many black people during the 2021 July uprising which emanated from the former president’s arrest.
Video clips of the former president in uMkhonto Wesizwe regalia surface on X formerly known as Twitter staying in he top X trends for a few days.
Social media users shared these reactions:
The President Zuma uMkhonto weSizwe MK Party.
We are doing this for our Chief Commander Chris Hani.
Long Live the Spirit of Chris Hani
Long Live. pic.twitter.com/fZCelxVVHS— Sesinga Mavikithi (@themankhosi) December 18, 2023
So the system crushed, ya neh. President Zuma ke star. People are joining uMkhonto WeSizwe/MK Party in numbers. I love it. pic.twitter.com/PtX2edJ4jm
— ??TSWANA-HUN?? Ngwana papaka (@Plsb12) December 18, 2023
Black Fist Land First leader Andile Mngxitama also shared his thought commenting:
#Zuma Msholozi is pulling a deft move. He is not leaving the ANC but rescuing its liberation agenda by mobilising a vote for MK and other progressive parties. Clever move. If they expell him it would be worse for the ANC of Ramaphosa. Eyikhale!!!
— ANDILE MNGXITAMA (@Mngxitama2) December 18, 2023
More shared:
MK stood with President Zuma through it all and it makes sense why President Zuma is endorsing it. pic.twitter.com/ON2wpugM00
— Banele (@Gentlements) December 17, 2023
Also see: The internet mourns the loss of DJ Mulo
