Jacob Zuma’s Bold Plot to Reclaim the ANC: Dual Membership, Double Agents, and a Power Grab

by Hope Ngobeni

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Political analyst Sandile Swana has revealed an intriguing insight into former ANC President and current leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Jacob Zuma’s calculated strategy to reclaim influence over the African National Congress (ANC). Swana argues that Zuma’s recent demand to be reinstated as a member of the ANC is not merely a personal grievance but a deliberate move in a larger, high-stakes political game. According to Swana, this demand could be the first step in a scheme to reassert his control over the party he once led.

Zuma’s legal move last Wednesday, which came in the form of a letter of demand issued through his attorney, Thabo Kwinana, is significant. The letter challenges the validity of Zuma’s expulsion from the ANC, claiming that the disciplinary processes that led to his ouster were flawed and unconstitutional. It sets a deadline of January 31 for the ANC to reinstate him, warning that failure to comply will result in court action. Zuma’s legal team argues that the disciplinary proceedings were not only procedurally flawed but also substantively unjust, and that an independent legal review would likely rule in Zuma’s favor.

Swana suggests that Zuma’s ultimate objective is more far-reaching than merely regaining his membership in the ANC. Zuma is reportedly looking to reposition the party on what he perceives as its original, founding principles, which he believes have been undermined under the current leadership. Swana’s analysis goes further, stating that Zuma envisions himself not only taking back the reins of the ANC but also transforming it into a dominant political force with the potential to secure a two-thirds majority. His long-term aim, according to Swana, is to restore the ANC to its “former glory,” an aspiration that suggests a deep dissatisfaction with how the party has evolved, particularly under Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership.

But Zuma’s ambitions do not stop at the ANC. According to Swana, Zuma plans to extend his political influence by seeking to gain a foothold in other parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). His strategy allegedly involves the concept of “dual membership,” where individuals can simultaneously belong to two competing political organizations, operating as “double agents.” Swana argues that Zuma’s background as a former intelligence operative has made him adept at this kind of strategy, enabling him to build a network of loyalists who can infiltrate rival parties while still advancing his own agenda. These “double agents,” Swana claims, have been critical in weakening the ANC’s internal cohesion and increasing Zuma’s influence within the broader political landscape.

Despite being expelled from the ANC, Zuma continues to project himself as a committed member of the party in the eyes of its grassroots. He is, according to Swana, signaling to ANC supporters that his loyalty to the party remains intact, even as he builds a rival political entity in the form of the MKP. This strategy of playing both sides is part of a broader tactical vision to eventually reclaim power within the ANC, where he can once again lead the party back to a dominant position in South African politics.

However, Zuma’s move has not gone unnoticed, and his critics are vocal in their condemnation. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula wasted little time in dismissing Zuma’s legal letter, accusing him of using the timing of his demand to distract from the ANC’s 113th-anniversary celebrations. Mbalula described Zuma’s actions as β€œmischievous” and accused him of trying to sow disunity within the party for his own benefit. Mbalula’s scornful remarks painted Zuma as a “mischievous, uncouth, ridiculous old man” whose actions are driven by a desire for self-interest, rather than any genuine attempt at reforming the ANC. He also criticized Zuma for choosing the anniversary of the ANC’s founding as the occasion for his public challenge, framing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party’s cohesion at a critical moment.

On the other hand, Professor Sipho Seepe, an independent political analyst, offered a more measured perspective. Seepe believes that Zuma’s actions are designed to be an irritant to the ANC, rather than a serious attempt to return to its ranks. He suggested that Zuma’s focus on exposing the ANC’s internal contradictions, especially under Ramaphosa’s leadership, serves as a broader strategy to embarrass the party. Seepe took aim at what he saw as ANC hypocrisy, particularly in relation to the party’s treatment of figures like Tony Yengeni, who has been accused of bringing the party into disrepute. In Seepe’s view, the ANC’s leadership under Ramaphosa has been tarnished far more severely by the “Phala Phala scandal” than by any of Zuma’s past misdeeds.

While Zuma’s plans might seem far-fetched to some, there is no denying the political acumen he has displayed throughout his career. His ability to maneuver through South Africa’s complex political terrain, often with a sense of timing and strategy that leaves opponents scrambling, is not to be underestimated. Whether Zuma’s bid to reclaim the ANC will succeed remains to be seen, but it is clear that he has no intention of fading into political obscurity. His next moves could shape the future of South African politics in ways that many may not yet fully grasp.

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