By Zukile Majova
Former ANC president Jacob Zuma began his defence on Wednesday against a charge of bringing the ANC into disrepute.
Zuma formed the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party in December, and it won 15% of the vote in the 29 May national general elections.
The ANC’s vote share shrank from 57.5% to 40%, and it blamed Zuma and the MK party for its losses.
Zuma has nominated ANC veteran Tony Yengeni to represent him in the virtual hearing, which began at 10am on Wednesday.
MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told the media that Zuma is allowed by the ANC disciplinary rules to nominate a party member to represent him.
Various ANC leaders have suggested Zuma’s disciplinary action would result in his dismissal. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the ANC lost its electoral majority because of Zuma.
Msholozi not only formed the MK party, campaigned for it, and voted for it, but he also openly encouraged millions of ANC supporters to join him in his plan to save the ANC from its self-destructive path.
ANC spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi said the disciplinary outcome would be made public.
“This session is being held virtually. We remind the public that all disciplinary proceedings of the ANC are not open to the media and the public.
“A verdict will be announced once the committee has received all representations and reviewed all presentations. We cannot specify the timeline for this process as it depends on the scope of the deliberations and the issues under consideration.”
Zuma has argued that he was being treated unfairly because senior members of the ANC and its MPs had previously voted with opposition parties in motions of no confidence against him while he was president of an ANC government.
As far back as 2017, ANC members, including Pravin Gordhan, Mondli Gungubele, Makhosi Khoza and others, supported a vote of no confidence against Zuma under the theme “For the sake of our future.”
Others joined in over the years as Zuma faced half a dozen motions of no confidence in parliament during his nine years as president of the republic.
Pictured above: Jacob Zuma.
Source: File
