Zuma Takes ANC Battle to Court on Freedom Charter Anniversary

Former president Jacob Zuma, now leader of the MK Party, has reignited his fight to return to the ANC and he’s doing it through the courts, with symbolism and timing firmly on his side.

Zuma’s Political Comeback Or Power Play?

In a dramatic move timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Jacob Zuma has launched a court application challenging his expulsion from the ANC, arguing the process that led to it was unlawful.

The application, filed on Thursday, targets both ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and the ruling party itself. Zuma’s lawyers argue that the decision to terminate his 65-year-long membership contravenes both the ANC Constitution and the broader legal principles of fairness.

MK Party Backs Zuma, Despite His Dual Membership Claim

Although Zuma currently leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which contributed to the ANC’s electoral downfall in May 2024, he insists that his heart and his loyalty, remain with the ANC of Luthuli, Tambo, and Mandela.

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela doubled down on that message:

“Zuma’s ANC membership can’t be erased by sell-outs and DA puppets like Ramaphosa and Mbalula.”

He also claimed that dual membership is allowed under the MK Party’s constitution in exceptional cases — framing Zuma’s bid as a step toward the unity of black South Africans and the return of land to its rightful owners.

Why Now? Freedom Charter Day Sends a Message

The timing of the application is no accident. Freedom Charter Day is one of the most symbolically loaded dates in South African history, marking the 1955 vision of a free, equal society. Zuma’s legal action, filed on this day, is a calculated political rebuke of the ANC under Ramaphosa, which he accuses of betraying that vision by allying with right-wing parties through the Government of National Unity.

Zuma’s January Warning and Legal Argument

This isn’t Zuma’s first attempt to challenge the expulsion. Back in January 2025, his legal team gave the ANC until the end of that month to reinstate him, or face court. The ANC declined.

The legal complaint centers around:

• Procedural flaws in the disciplinary hearing (held in Zuma’s absence)

• The refusal to conduct a physical hearing despite earlier agreements

• Alleged intimidation of Zuma’s ally Tony Yengeni, who defended him during the process

ANC Veterans Stand Firm

While Zuma may still refer to himself as a lifelong ANC member, party leaders aren’t buying it.

ANC Veterans League president Snuki Zikalala said last year that expelling Zuma marked a “chapter of renewal” for the party.

“Those involved in counter-revolutionary activities don’t have a home in the ANC,” he declared — a clear reference to Zuma’s formation of the MK Party and failure to support the ANC in the 2024 elections.

Can Zuma Belong to Both Parties?

Legally and politically, the waters are murky. The ANC expelled Zuma in July 2024 for violating Rule 25 of its constitution by forming and leading a rival party. According to the ANC, that act alone sealed his fate.

But Zuma and the MK Party argue that this is about reclaiming the “real ANC,” not the version they say has compromised with “capitalist interests” through its coalition with the DA and Freedom Front Plus.

What’s Next in the Legal Showdown?

The court will now have to consider whether Zuma’s expulsion process was fair, and whether his right to belong to a political party has been unjustly infringed.

If the court rules in his favour, it could set a controversial precedent, possibly opening the door for other dual political memberships, and throwing the ANC’s internal disciplinary machinery into question.

But more than anything, it reaffirms Zuma’s enduring grip on the political stage, whether as a disruptor or a loyalist clinging to a past that no longer wants him.

Zuma’s latest legal fight is about more than membership, it’s a battle for legacy, legitimacy, and leverage. Whether he’s welcomed back or permanently shut out, he’s making sure the ANC and the country, can’t ignore him.

{Source: The Citizen}

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