Ex-president Jacob Zuma emerges as key player in South African elections

New Delhi, Apr 22: Former South African President Jacob Zuma, once ensnared in scandal and incarceration, has resurfaced as a key player in the run-up to the country’s impending elections scheduled for May 29.

His comeback has injected a dose of intrigue and unpredictability into the electoral landscape, altering the balance of power and influence.

82-year-old Zuma, a prominent figure within the African National Congress (ANC) during his nine-year presidency starting in 2009, faced expulsion amid allegations of corruption, which he vehemently refutes.

Zuma has orchestrated a striking return by spearheading the creation of a new political outfit, the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, in collaboration with his allies and daughter.

Despite initial legal roadblocks, such as the ANC’s bid to thwart MK’s use of its name and emblem over trademark concerns, the Durban High Court’s ruling in favour of MK today has provided legitimacy to Zuma’s narrative of continuity with the ANC’s historical legacy.

The adoption of the evocative name “Spear of the Nation,” harkening back to the ANC’s anti-apartheid struggle, and Mandela’s days reinforces MK’s ideological roots and strengthens Zuma’s grip on its leadership.

Recent legal victories have further emboldened Zuma’s political aspirations, with the Electoral Court overturning a previous decision barring him from contesting the upcoming general election.

This pivotal ruling paved the way for Zuma to vie as a presidential candidate under the banner of MK, challenging the supremacy of the ANC, which he once helmed.

As South Africa braces for the General Assembly elections on May 29, MK’s resurgence injects a new dynamic into the electoral equation.

While analysts maintain scepticism about MK’s chances of electoral triumph, its presence poses a credible threat to the ANC’s parliamentary dominance, potentially signalling a seismic shift in South Africa’s political landscape.

MK’s appeal resonates strongest in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s traditional stronghold, where his populist rhetoric strikes a chord with a devoted base of supporters. Zuma’s prominent role in MK’s campaign, alongside his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who is also a parliamentary candidate, hints at a potential dynastic succession within the party ranks.

The simmering rivalry between Zuma and current President Cyril Ramaphosa adds another layer of complexity to the electoral fray, with Zuma’s faction portraying Ramaphosa as beholden to “white capitalist interests.” Such rhetoric underscores the deeply polarized nature of South African politics and raises concerns about escalating tensions in the lead-up to the elections.

In the wake of recent legal triumphs overturning the electoral commission’s ban on Zuma’s candidacy and the ANC’s failed attempt to deregister MK, the stage is set for a fiercely contested electoral showdown. South Africa’s forthcoming elections have garnered significant international attention, underscoring the nation’s pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of democracy on the African continent.