Former President Jacob Zuma surprised attendees at the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party event in Verulam, north of Durban, during a campaign rally on Tuesday.
Despite the heavy Boxing Day rain in Durban, hundreds of supporters gathered at Mzo Lifestyle for the MK Party meeting.
Addressing the crowd, Zuma reiterated his decision not to support the governing party under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership in the upcoming 2024 national and provincial elections.
Instead, Zuma pledged his vote to the newly formed MK Party. During his speech, he assured supporters of the MK Party’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, emphasizing the importance of discipline among its members.
Zuma issued a warning to politicians who were insulting the MK Party, urging them to “zip it” before he exposed uncomfortable truths about them. Earlier this month, Zuma publicly endorsed the MK Party and declared that he could not support the ANC or Ramaphosa due to his conscience.
In a media briefing in Soweto, Johannesburg, Zuma clarified that he was not leaving the ANC but would cast his vote for the MK Party. He criticized Ramaphosa, labeling him as “an agent of white capital” who declared war on black progressives and professionals.
The MK Party, registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), is among several political parties registered between June 29 and September 18 to participate in the 2024 national elections. The leadership of the MK Party remains unclear at this time.