Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
20 January 2024 | 19:47 CAT

Former president Jacob Zuma at the announcement of the formation of the uMkhonto Wesizwe party in Soweto on 16 December 2023. Photo/ EWN

As the election season intensifies, most South African politicians are doing all in their power to try and persuade support from people across the country to join their specific party. All indications are that this year’s elections are predicted to be one of the most closely contested since 1994. It will also be exactly three decades since all South Africans could make, they’re in the first democratic elections.

A question now being asked is whether former president Jacob Zuma, who left the ANC and formed MK, is using his former comrades and ANC veterans to draw support.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Political Analyst Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast pointed out that the reason for the fallout between former presidents Zuma and President Ramaphosa is that Zuma is looking for political protection.

“Zuma likes to exploit historical factors to protect himself. You cannot talk about Radical Economic Transformation when you are on your way out. He only introduced the concept in 2007 which he would have implemented when he came into power during his first term,” explains Dr Breakfast.

Meanwhile, the families of deceased ANC veterans rejected planned visits by former president Jacob Zuma and the MK party, saying they won’t allow the stalwarts’ memory to be used as pawns in “political opportunism”.

On Wednesday, a poster announcing Zuma’s campaign in Limpopo was circulated, which was scheduled to include visits to the burial sites of former minister Collins Chabane and Peter “Dambuza” Malada in Xikundu village and Venda, respectively.

However, the families and foundations of the two men distanced themselves from the visits and rejected any relationship with the recently formed MK party.

Zuma is one of the most popular South African politicians with much of his support coming from his home province KwaZulu-Natal.

Now he is moving to other provinces to try to raise support for his party.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.