Durban — Former president Jacob Zuma and current leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has launched a scathing attack on the ANC, saying it had “reversed” the gains made since 1994.
His remarks came during the memorial lecture of ANC veteran Johannes Phungula in uMlazi, south of Durban, on Sunday evening.
“Comrades, I have been listening to you talk about this hero (Phungula). He was a brave comrade. He would not tolerate what is happening in the ANC now because they have reversed all the work done since 1994,” he remarked, reflecting on Phungula’s commitment to the Struggle for freedom.
“The people who built the ANC, like comrade Phungula, would not have allowed what is happening in the ANC to continue unabated. He was not a coward. We must all emulate his character as we continue to build the MK Party,” he said.
Clad in party regalia, MKP members filled the Cinema Hall at uMlazi W section during Zuma’s address.
In a strategic bid to prepare for the upcoming local government elections in 2026, Zuma encouraged MKP members to intensify their efforts to woo supporters from other political parties, including the ANC.
“We must not rest. Let’s work harder now and be united so that our party continues to be strong so that we win in the upcoming elections. If we are united we will take this country back and fix it. There are so many wrong things with our country currently. It is only the MK Party that will fix it,” he said.
The MKP was still buoyed by the May election, which saw the party gaining 58 seats in the National Assembly with 400 seats, and 37 seats in the KZN provincial legislature which has 80 seats.
Since dumping the ANC last December, Zuma has not held back his thoughts regarding the ANC’s direction under current President Cyril Ramaphosa. He contends that the party has deviated from its core ideological values and no longer represents the interests of the ordinary South African, particularly the downtrodden.
The MKP, which has positioned itself as the official opposition to the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by the ANC, is preparing to increase its support base ahead of the local polls.
This follows the formal announcement of the party’s constitution and the formation of youth and women’s league structures on Friday.
Phungula, who is celebrated as a stalwart in the liberation Struggle, collaborated closely with Zuma during the oppressive apartheid era. A notable figure in the ANC’s Defiance Campaign of 1952, Phungula died in 2009 aged 77.
In recognition of his contributions, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli in Gold in December 2009 when Zuma was president. His legacy, Zuma stated, served as a reminder of the courage and commitment required to uphold the values upon which the ANC was founded.
Professor Sipho Seepe, a well-known political analyst, agreed with Zuma’s sentiment.
“He (Zuma) is correct to say that the ANC has lost its touch and is now detached from the people it ought to represent, particularly the downtrodden,” said Seepe.
He added: “This was evident in the last elections, where we saw the party losing its majority nationally and in key provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.”
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri could not be reached for comment on Monday. Her phone repeatedly rang until it went to voicemail and she did not respond to a written request for comment.
Meanwhile, ANC bigwigs and other party leaders, who are part of the GNU met at the Luthuli House, ANC headquarters, in Johannesburg, to reflect on the 100 days since the formation of the power deal in June.
The 10 parties under the GNU deal were: the ANC, the DA, the IFP, the GOOD Party, the Patriotic Alliance, the Freedom Front Plus, the UDM, the Rise Mzansi, the PAC and Al Jama-ah.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address during the event.
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