South African Constitutional Court disqualifies former President Zuma from upcoming election
PBS NewsHourMay 18
South Africa: ANC Suspends Former Pres. Jacob Zuma
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The Facts
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has suspended the membership of former Pres. Jacob Zuma after he announced he would campaign for another party in the upcoming general election, the party's secretary general Fikile Mbalula announced on Monday.
He claimed that Zuma has actively compromised the integrity of the party by spearheading a campaign to oust the ANC from power, adding that this decision was taken unanimously on Sunday evening and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday morning.
The Spin
Narrative A
Zuma's suspension follows the ANC constitution and was a long overdue step. It was the ANC itself that created the Zuma problem by helping him and his kleptocratic system to power and then shielding him from being held accountable for corruption charges. His suspension is a first step toward fulfilling the promise to renew the party to lead South Africa out of crisis. This decision restores at least some credibility to the party that led South Africa out of apartheid and could bolster its position ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Narrative B
The reason for the emergence of the MK party is the ANC itself, whose corrupt and incompetent government has plunged South Africa into a deep economic crisis. The suspension of Zuma is further proof that Ramaphosa's party has finally abandoned its old anti-apartheid era ideals and has become a proxy of white monopoly capital. MK's momentum is based on the awareness that there can never be reconciliation and freedom without socio-economic equality and justice. South Africa needs political renewal, and MK will play its part in achieving this.