Former South African President Jacob Zuma rocked the political sphere when, on Saturday, he announced his support for the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party, igniting speculation about his potential candidacy in the 2024 presidential race.
Will Jacob Zuma run for president as MK Party leader in 2024?
During a press conference held in Orlando East, Soweto, on the 62nd anniversary of Umkhonto Wesizwe. Zuma strongly criticised the ANC under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing it of straying from the values and vision of the party’s legendary founders.
He declared, “I cannot, and will not campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa,” labelling the current ANC as a “proxy for white monopoly capital” and contrasting it sharply with the ANC of leaders like Luthuli, Tambo, and Mandela.
Zuma, who served as the president of the ANC from 2007 to 2017, openly denounced the party, stating that voting for the ANC under Ramaphosa would be a “betrayal.”
This statement, and several other utterances he made raised questions about his political ambitions and whether he might consider a presidential bid under the MK Party banner.
When asked about this, Zuma toyed around with a reporter, neither confirming nor denying speculation that he may use his position within the newly formed MK Party to rival the ANC at the polls in 2024.
While, of course, dethroning the ANC with an ex-communicated faction of the ruling party may be improbable, considering the possibility of the MK Party co-aligning with bigger leftist parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Zuma emphasised the need for a different political direction, saying,
“It is our duty to guide our people on what to do in order to save our revolution from its enemies and to achieve the society envisaged in the Freedom Charter.”
In endorsing the MK Party, Zuma has called on South Africans to join him in voting for this new political entity, which he described as essential for the nation’s progress.
Interestingly, while Zuma has distanced himself from the ANC in terms of its current leadership and direction, he maintains that he remains a loyal member of the party.
This contradiction adds to the intrigue surrounding his political manoeuvres and potential future plans. The ANC has yet to formally respond to Zuma’s presser.