South Africa's ex-leader Zuma says he is opting to leave ANC
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has announced his decision to leave the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, claiming it is no longer true to its roots.
Zuma, now the leader of the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, made the announcement following his expulsion from the ANC last month after leading MK into elections as a rival party.
Speaking at an MK press conference in Johannesburg, Zuma criticised the current leadership of the ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa. "I'm leaving the ANC because it has gone out of the way, it’s no longer the ANC we know. This is the Ramaphosa ANC, and they have deviated, they have moved out of the way,” Zuma stated.
Zuma also hinted at the long-term consequences of his departure, suggesting that the fragmentation of political parties could weaken South Africa's political landscape. "One day, when I'm an old man... I will tell the citizens of this country that you sold out by creating other organisations, helping the enemy to disperse us so that you don't have a concrete majority," he added.
The ANC suspended Zuma in January after he publicly endorsed the newly formed MK party. MK went on to secure 14.5 percent of the vote in the May 29 elections, placing third and significantly reducing the ANC's share of the electorate.
