The African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in South Africa, announced on Saturday the postponement of the disciplinary hearing of former President Jacob Zuma, due to fears related to security and the risk of violence at the eve of the general elections scheduled for May 29.
Last Thursday, the ANC National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) announced that Zuma would be summoned to a disciplinary hearing next Tuesday for breaching party rules.
She explained that the ex-president is accused of breaching the ANC charter when he publicly supported the new party “uMkhonto we Sizwe” (MK) on December 16, 2023 and when he appeared on the list of MK party candidates.
“Based on an assessment of the prevailing security situation at Luthuli House (party headquarters in Johannesburg), we are informed that activities, including disciplinary hearings, which attract large gatherings, are not recommended, as they risk leading to violence, particularly in the run-up to the elections,” the party said in an advisory.
He said that, as a result, ANC national leaders decided that such activities should be postponed until after national and provincial elections, including Mr Zuma’s hearing.
In December 2023, Mr Zuma created his own party named after the former military wing of the African National Congress, calling on South Africans not to vote for the ANC in the next general election.
Following this development, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC decided to suspend the membership of the ex-president and put him through disciplinary proceedings.
More than 27 million registered voters are called to the polls to choose the 400 deputies sitting in the National Assembly, who, in turn, will elect the next President.
With MAP
