Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, was slated to attend a disciplinary hearing with the African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday.
This comes after he campaigned against the party he once led, now representing a new political faction in the national elections scheduled for May.
The disciplinary hearing may result in the expulsion of Zuma, 82, from the ANC, a party he joined in the late 1950s during its fight against the apartheid regime of white minority rule.
He resigned as South African president in 2018 due to corruption allegations and has since been involved in a political rivalry with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded him as both party and national leader.
In December, Zuma publicly confirmed his split from the ANC during a press conference, where he declared his intention to run for the newly established MK Party in the upcoming May 29 elections.
He has been a staunch critic of Ramaphosa, having even leveled treason accusations against him previously.
Although Zuma claimed he would maintain his ANC membership while leading the MK Party, the ANC suspended him in January, citing his attacks on the party’s reputation.
It is unclear whether Zuma will be present for Wednesday’s hearing at the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg or if it will be conducted online.
Officials from the MK Party have stated that he wishes to attend in person, while the ANC is advocating for a virtual meeting.
Considered a destabilizing force in Africa’s most industrialized country, Zuma’s MK Party nonetheless made a remarkable impact by winning 14% of the national vote in the May 29 elections, its inaugural contest.
The unexpected support for MK was a key factor in the ANC losing its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.
This significant shift in the political landscape marked a historic outcome for South Africa.
As a result, the country is now witnessing the formation of a unique multi-party coalition government, reflecting the changing dynamics of its electoral politics.
MK has decided against joining the coalition and will take on the role of official opposition, becoming the third-largest party in Parliament.
After the election, Parliament is scheduled to commence its new term on Thursday.
The election highlighted Zuma’s lasting popularity in certain areas of the country, even amid his ongoing legal issues. This support reveals a significant segment of voters who remain committed to him.
Zuma received a prison sentence In 2021 for contempt of court after he declined to testify at an inquiry into alleged corruption during his presidency from 2009 to 2018. Despite these legal troubles, his appeal among his supporters has not waned.
He is scheduled to go on trial next year for separate corruption charges connected to his tenure before he became president.
These upcoming legal proceedings will likely further affect his political influence and standing in South Africa.
Due to his prison sentence, he was barred from contesting a seat in Parliament during the May election.
Nonetheless, he continues to be the prominent figure and leader of the MK Party.