Former president and leader of the MK Party, Jacob Zuma, will on Friday battle to be reinstated as an ANC member after being expelled in July.
The Zuma Foundation announced in a statement on Thursday that the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals will be hearing the appeal lodged by Zuma.
This will take place virtually, despite Zuma demanding a physical hearing.
This comes after Zuma appealed against the proceedings and outcomes of the National Disciplinary Committee process in July.
The ANC officially expelled Zuma in July after he was suspended in January for endorsing MKP.
The party accused Zuma of violating Rule 25 of the party’s constitution by supporting another party while he was still a member.
He was also given 21 days to appeal the expulsion.
Zuma officially launched MKP on December 16, 2023, in Soweto, Johannesburg to contest the May 29 national and provincial elections.
At the time, the ANC and alliance partners were also celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the ANC’s military wing, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
Zuma declared during the MKP launch that he would support the MKP over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC.
“I cannot and will not campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa. My conscience will not allow me to lie to the people of South Africa and pretend that the ANC of Ramaphosa was the one of [late former ANC leaders Albert] Luthuli, [Oliver] Tambo, and [Nelson] Mandela,” Zuma said.
He also stated that he would remain an ANC member regardless of his unwavering support for MKP.
In a statement, MKP Zuma has instructed his representative Tony Yengeni first order of business must be his application for a physical and public appeal process and a few other preliminary objections that need to be decided before the appeal on the merits.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Zuma remained a suspended member of the party.
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