Staff Reporter
South Africa’s Former President and leader of the UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, Jacob Zuma, has criticized the African National Congress (ANC) for its inconsistent application of the “step aside” rule.
Speaking at a rally in KwaMashu, north of Durban, Zuma accused the current ANC leadership of deviating from the party’s founding principles.
Implemented by the ANC, the step aside rule requires members facing corruption or other serious criminal charges to refrain from participating in party and government activities. However, Zuma claimed that some leaders within the ANC were acting as if they were the owners of the organization, disregarding consultation with other members.
Zuma has expressed his confusion about the origins of certain rules imposed by these leaders, including the step aside rule itself, which he believes lacks transparency.
“Then it started that some leaders were behaving in certain ways, thinking they were the owners of the organisation and not us as members of the organisation. They were creating all sorts of rules that we don’t know where they were coming from.
“They did not consult anyone to ask this is what we are doing now. you would hear there is this new thing you don’t know, step aside you don’t know why you should step outside. They tell people to step aside but they don’t step aside.”
Said Zuma.
Zuma has emphasized his support for the MK Party, announcing that he would back the party in the upcoming general elections this month. Despite maintaining his membership with the ANC, Zuma clarified that he would not vote for the party, instead casting his vote in favor of the MK Party.
“I want you to know this because some people are asking why he is still in the ANC. I’m not really staying there, I’m just keeping my membership there. I’m not going to vote for it. I’m going to vote here and when we have won, I’ll go and knock and say bring back our ANC.” He added.
