President Cyril Ramaphosa is unfazed by his political rival former president Jacob Zuma’s decision not to vote and campaign for the ANC in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
After meeting with the delegations of United Ulama Council and SA Friends of Palestine, in responding to the media, during a press conference Ramaphosa said: “We all listened to that announcement and we have noted what he has said, what he has announced and that is as far as we are prepared to go at this time. Everyone in our country is free to express themselves in relation to who they will vote for and why they will vote for them and we have noted what former president Zuma has announced.”
Zuma, who claimed he will die being an ANC member, recently announced that he will vote for the newly formed political party Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) during its official launch on Saturday.
Earlier, former president Thabo Mbeki also said will not be campaigning for the ANC while expressing his discontentment under the current ruling party’s administration.
Zuma said: “In 2024 I will vote for Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, it has already been registered with the IEC, with my knowledge and blessings. I have decided that I cannot and will not campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa. It is not the ANC I joined, it will be a betrayal to campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa. My conscience will not allow that.”
“I call on all South Africa to join me in voting for the MK party, or any progressive party that seeks total liberation and the return of our land to its rightful owners. This government is led by sell-outs and apartheid collaborators.”
Meanwhile, ANC KZN leadership described Zuma’s conduct as “gross ill-discipline”.
ANC KZN provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said: “It is for the first time in the 111 years of the ANC’s existence that a former president and an outstanding leader of the movement publicly announced his decision to vote for another political party. We view this as literally divorcing the ANC. It is a form of gross ill-discipline. We remain focused as the ANC in KZN and we note comrade Msholozi’s assertion. We want to tell our people that we are still the ANC of 1994, nothing has changed. Every member of the ANC joins the organisation voluntarily and leaves it voluntarily on his or her behest.”
The Azanian can confirm that the ANC has engaged the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) about its intention to take legal action against a new political formation that was named after its armed wing, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
This follows after the party has been registered with IEC and likely to contest the 2024 general elections.
Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed earlier that the ANC would go the legal route against Zuma’s new political party.
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