South Africa poll battle heats up as ruling ANC suspends former President Jacob Zuma

South Africa’s ruling party the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday suspended former President Jacob Zuma after he pledged his support to a new political party for the upcoming national elections. This move highlights the ongoing rift between Zuma and his successor, current President Cyril Ramaphosa. The decision to suspend Zuma comes after weeks of speculation regarding the ANC’s response to his actions. Zuma, who led the ANC from 2007 to 2017 and served as president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, has been at odds with Ramaphosa’s leadership. The ANC said Zuma’s conduct in campaigning against it was “irreconcilable” with the party’s constitution, adding that “Zuma and others whose conduct conflicts with our values and principles will find themselves outside the ANC.” Zuma said at a press conference in December he would be voting for the newly formed MK Party, and his decision to turn his back on the ANC was because of Ramaphosa’s leadership. Zuma later said he aimed to keep his ANC membership. The name of the new political party also rankles the ANC. MK is an abbreviation for uMkhonto we Sizwe, the name of the now-defunct ANC military wing formed by Nelson Mandela in 1961 to fight the apartheid system of white minority rule in South Africa. Ramaphosa rose to power promising to clean up the ANC and took over the presidency after Zuma, 81, was forced to step down in 2018 amid allegations of corruption. Zuma is currently on trial and faces multiple charges relating to a multi-billion-dollar arms deal the South African government signed with French arms company Tales more than 20 years ago, when he was a deputy president. Zuma still has support in parts of South Africa, and more than 300 people died in riots in 2021 when he was sent to prison for contempt of court for refusing to testify at an inquiry into government corruption while he was president. It was the worst public unrest in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. Analysts say the ANC is facing its toughest election this year amid rising levels of poverty and unemployment. The party once led by Nobel laureate Mandela is dogged by corruption allegations and accusations that it has failed to deliver a better life for millions of poor. Some polls suggest it may dip below 50% of the national vote for the first time, which would force it to enter into a coalition to retain Ramaphosa as president. The ANC has been in government with a clear majority since the end of apartheid 30 years ago but its popularity has steadily declined. With inputs from AP.