Former ANC President Jacob Zuma Under Fire As Netizens Accuse Him of Dividing the Party

• South Africans believe that former president Jacob Zuma is the reason why the ANC is losing power and trust
• The former ANC leader said at a recent rally that the party ought to fight to regain the lost ground and reaffirm trust within the populace
• A Wits University professor of politics told Briefly News what he thought of the statements Zuma made
• Netizens said that his alleged bid to have Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People Living with Disabilities Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be the party's head was one of the causes of the rift

South Africans blame former ANC president Jacob Zuma for divisions within the party and accused him of splitting the country by supporting his former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for her bid to be party president.

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Jacob Zuma recently said that the country has been losing trust in the ANC because of divisions and that the ruling party must fight to regain its confidence.

Zuma blamed for ANC woes

Msholozi addressed ANC members and faithfuls at a rally in Durban on Saturday, 21 October. According to SABC News, Zuma remarked that ANC needs to be rescued. This is mainly because the ANC lost some support in KwaZulu-Natal, long considered the ANC's stronghold.

Addressing followers and members in attendance, Jacob Zuma said that the ANC needs to be rescued. He also called on the members to mobilise other people to vote for the political party and remind them that doing so would benefit the liberation. He also pointed out that factionalism in the party is tearing the ANC apart.

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Zuma is fighting to stay relevant– expert

Professor Roger Southall from Wits University told Briefly News what he thought of Zuma's comments.

"Zuma's comments are a bit rich given state capture under his presidency and that the vote for the ANC declined from 66% of the votes cast in 2009 to 62.2% before plummeting to 57.5% at the end of his presidency. Then we have increasing poverty, loadshedding as well as COVID-19 along with state capture," he said.

"Zuma's criticism of the ANC shows that he is fighting to stay relevant and fighting his court cases. His profile in KZN is failing. Ramaphosa may not be wildly popular in the ANC but where is the alternative?"

SA reacts to Zuma claims

South Africans on Facebook disagree with Zuma and said that the trust had been completely eroded because of his role in causing division by supporting Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

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Witness Mthethwa said:

“The problem in the ANC is Fikile Mbalula and Cyril Ramaphosa’s divide and rule.”

Alphas Khalo blamed him.

“He’s the one who’s dividing the ANC. He wanted Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be the president.”

Mzwiwomelele Ndongeni KNtshangase added:

“My only hope is that at least, iNkandla was taken by IFP when Nxamalala was president and it can be reclaimed now that he's leading the campaign.”

Zukile Toyi wrote:

“You’re confusing people. You’re the ones that are destroying the ANC and you come and act as if you are concerned about it.”

Sikhona Makhosanzima Gebashe also blamed Zuma.

“Zuma is the one who caused cracks in the organisation by fighting for his wife to be the country's president. When Ramaphosa beat his wife, Zuma began a division campaign by calling the president stupid names.”

Fikile Mbalula under fire

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that Fikile Mbalula's recent comments sparked a debate between him and the country.

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Source: Briefly News