Jacob Zuma Wants Back Into the ANC, So He Can Take It Over

Jacob Zuma may have started his own political party, but he’s not done with the ANC just yet. In a twist that’s equal parts dramatic and strategic, the former president is now fighting in court to reverse his expulsion — not just to return, but to reclaim control of the organisation he once led.

From Exile to Expulsion

On the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Zuma filed court papers to challenge the ANC’s decision to revoke his membership after 65 years. His offence? Endorsing the breakaway uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in the lead-up to South Africa’s 2024 general elections — a move that saw him officially expelled in July last year.

But Zuma, who now leads the MKP, says the ANC’s internal disciplinary process was illegal and violated his rights. And more provocatively, he isn’t challenging the expulsion just to rejoin the party. He wants to change it from the inside.

“I want to remain in the ANC so I can fix it,” Zuma said in a recent podcast, accusing the current leadership of abandoning the principles of greats like Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. “If I wasn’t a member, I wouldn’t be able to change anything — they’d just say I’m interfering.”

Zuma’s Long  Political Chess Game

Zuma’s legal move is the latest chapter in a high-stakes political chess game that began with his public fallout with Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC’s top brass. It continued with the formation of the MK Party on 16 December 2023 — which went on to surprise many by helping unseat the ANC from its majority perch in the May 2024 elections.

His supporters argue that Zuma has always been loyal to the real ANC, and that his expulsion was the work of “sell-outs” who partnered with the DA and FF Plus in a post-election Government of National Unity (GNU).

MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela didn’t hold back, calling the ANC disciplinary process a “kangaroo court” and saying Zuma’s removal was engineered by “DA puppets” like Ramaphosa and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

“We support President Zuma fully,” said Ndhlela. “His dual membership in the MKP and the real ANC must be restored. That’s how we build unity among black South Africans and reclaim the land and freedom we’ve fought for.”

The ANC says… Mostly Nothing

While ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu declined to comment, Mbalula has previously labelled Zuma’s court action “mischief” and called the former president a “ridiculous old man” who thrives on disunity.

Behind closed doors, ANC insiders are divided. Some say Zuma is just trying to stir the pot or even protect his pension, especially with whispers of constitutional changes that could affect benefits for former presidents. Others suggest that, despite the chaos, Zuma still has pull and could energise support ahead of the 2026 local elections.

Analysts: This is About Power, Not Nostalgia

Political analysts see the court challenge as part of a broader power play.

“Zuma sees today’s ANC as being captured by liberal interests,” said Professor Siphamandla Zondi from the University of Johannesburg. “When he couldn’t beat that faction at two conferences, he created the MKP.”

Analyst Sandile Swana added that Zuma’s goal is to take back control of the ANC — not just return to its ranks. “It’s a strategic manoeuvre. If he regains membership, it legitimises his influence and destabilises Ramaphosa’s faction.”

A Comeback, or Just More Controversy?

Zuma’s legacy is already a complicated one. He remains beloved in some rural and working-class communities, yet controversial in urban and institutional circles. His current bid is part ideology, part legal battle, and part political theatre.

But one thing is clear: Jacob Zuma is not fading quietly into the background.

As the ANC now faces both internal fractures and a precarious position in national governance, Zuma’s courtroom drama may be just the beginning of yet another seismic shift in South Africa’s political future.

Source:IOL

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