South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, moved to kick Jacob Zuma out of the party on Monday, punishing the former president for campaigning for a rival political party.
The party announced that it had suspended Mr. Zuma’s membership after he helped to form a rival party, of which he has become the “figure head,” the party’s leadership said. The announcement followed a meeting of its National Executive Committee.
It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Zuma would be allowed to challenge his suspension or face an internal disciplinary process. Describing him as “erratic” and “disruptive,” the party said it wanted to “cut its losses.”
The suspension of the former president of the country and the party is a remarkable reproach by party leaders who spent years defending Mr. Zuma against accusations of corruption and wrongdoing, even as his tenure eroded public support for the party. In the aftermath of his presidency, Mr. Zuma continued to sow political chaos as he evaded accountability and undermined the party’s current leadership through stinging public statements.
The decision to take disciplinary action against Mr. Zuma, who became a symbol of widespread corruption and impunity, signals a break from this corrosive legacy and a show of strength by President Cyril Ramaphosa as he seeks re-election.
“Rebel breakaway groupings,” sought to undermine the African National Congress, said Fikile Mbalula, the party’s secretary general. Though he said the party would renew itself as the party’s leadership now took responsibility for the failures of Mr. Zuma’s time in office.
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