Lungani Zungu
There is no love lost between the current government and Jacob Zuma, but the former president has nonetheless implored his backers not to boycott the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal in the upcoming local elections.
In a video clip uploaded by the JG Zuma Foundation to Twitter on Tuesday, a frail-looking Zuma urged his supporters to vote for the ANC, even if they might be angry at the party.
“I have heard some people say they will not vote. It is important that we vote, especially for the ANC,” he said in Zulu.
“Maybe I also have many things that I’m not happy about, but I’ll vote. Because if we don’t vote, we might end up having no voice in the affairs of the country.
“Please rethink your decision and vote,” he added.
Zuma’s message comes amid threats by his backers to shun the ANC in the polls, especially in KZN.
Many, including Zuma’s daughter Duduzile, have publicly accused the ANC – the party her father led for ten years – of betraying him.
For many Zuma loyalists, his arrest on 7 July was a blow which they could not forgive.
They accused many people, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, of betraying Zuma.
As revenge, some of his backers threatened to boycott the elections, while others said they would not vote for the party.
With this threat hanging over the ANC, the question is whether this would dent the ANC’s performance in the polls.
Political analyst Prince Mashele believes this would cause no damage to the ANC.
“Zuma does not have massive support as he used to during his time as president. His support has dwindled. So the few people who would not vote will not cause any significant damage to the party’s performance,” said Mashele.
Meanwhile, Zuma’s supporters will host an event to welcome him back from jail in Nkandla on 14 October. This follows his release on medical parole last month from his 15-month jail sentence.
