Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been making headlines lately for his involvement in mobilizing voters for his newly established uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. While Zuma maintains that he is still a loyal member of the African National Congress (ANC), his actions and association with MK suggest otherwise.
This article explores Zuma’s strategy of using disgruntled ANC executives to recruit members for his party and the support he is gaining from traditional leaders.
Zuma’s presence as the face of MK on election posters and his recent announcement of provincial command teams have left no doubt about his intentions to distance himself from the ANC.
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These command teams, consisting of convenors and coordinators, have been recruited from ANC branch and regional leaders as well as local councilors. Among the names on the list is Ishmael Semonyo, a former ANC ward 14 branch chair in Matlosana, North West, who confirmed his departure from the ANC to join MK.
Madibeng, a municipality in North West, has become a breeding ground for MK, with many former ANC members from the area appearing on the party’s mobilizing and campaign team.
The strategy employed by Zuma and his supporters is reminiscent of the Congress of the People (Cope), where grassroots members were first sent to establish structures before prominent figures joined. The MK coordinators’ primary task is to recruit ANC members who have grievances with the ruling party.
The recruitment of members is crucial for MK’s success, according to Semonyo. The party is targeting individuals who have issues with the ANC, and their discontentment is seen as an opportunity for MK to gain support.
Zuma’s upcoming visit to North West, where he plans to mobilize traditional leaders during a rally at Taung, further highlights his efforts to expand his party’s reach. Traditional leaders, who have often felt sidelined by the ruling party, are looking to Zuma as their last hope.
Many chiefs have expressed dissatisfaction with how they have been undermined by ANC structures and ANC-aligned organizations, such as the South African National Civic Organisation. Power struggles and disputes over land ownership have strained the relationship between traditional leaders and ANC structures.
Furthermore, rural communities under the leadership of traditional chiefs have been neglected and have not received adequate public services from the government and municipalities.
Lack of electricity, roads, bridges, community halls, cemeteries, and public transport, as well as water shortages, are prevalent issues in these areas. In contrast, urban townships often receive better services and infrastructure.
The neglect of rural development and lack of community upliftment is a widespread problem in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, North West, and Limpopo. These areas are known for dangerous pit latrine toilets, the bucket system, and inadequate school facilities.
The end of the homeland system, which previously provided assistance to communities with agricultural activities, has further exacerbated the challenges faced by these communities.
To address these issues, Jacob Zuma recently met with a delegation of traditional leaders at his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.
The meeting aimed to discuss the problems faced by traditional leaders, and they pledged their support to MK. Traditional leaders see Zuma as a potential ally in advocating for their concerns and fighting for the rights of their communities.
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