South Africa’s electoral court has rejected a bid by the governing African National Congress (ANC) to prevent a newly formed party backed by former President Jacob Zuma from contesting upcoming national elections.
The court ruling dismissed the ANC’s argument that the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, which takes its name from the now-disbanded armed wing of the ANC, failed to meet official registration criteria. Supporters of the MK party celebrated outside the courtroom, dancing in green party colors.
Despite being a disgraced former president jailed over corruption charges, Jacob Zuma is emerging as a political wildcard ahead of the May 29th polls.
His dramatic decision in December to ditch the ANC he once led and throw support behind the MK party is seen as a potential threat to his former party’s dominance.
“The ANC has said it accepts the court’s decision and will comply with it,” said a party spokesman, clarifying their objections were over registration procedures rather than opposing the MK’s presence on the ballot.
However, the governing party has also launched separate legal action accusing the MK of copyright infringement over its name and armed struggle imagery.
Some opinion polls suggest the ANC’s national vote share could dip below 50% for the first time since taking power in 1994’s post-apartheid elections. Zuma appears to be siphoning away support, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal where the MK is predicted to capture around 25% of votes.
The 81-year-old Zuma, who was forced out as president in 2018 over graft allegations he denies, is now leading the MK’s campaign urging voters to abandon the ANC under his successor Cyril Ramaphosa. He served in the original MK wing that fought apartheid.
The ANC has accused Zuma of opportunistically misusing “military symbolism” from the “proud history of armed struggle” to merely “erode” its support base.
Zuma was South Africa’s president for nine years from 2009, but forced from power and replaced by current President Cyril Ramaphosa in part over corruption allegations, which Mr Zuma denies.
As South Africa’s divisive former leader re-emerges as a potent political force, the upcoming elections are shaping up as a critical test of the ANC’s continued dominance.
