Pretoria

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party's secretary-general confirmed on Monday (Jul 28). Zuma, who once led the party, had campaigned for rival uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in the May general elections, leading to the ouster. 

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The ANC's disciplinary committee had found him guilty of compromising the "integrity" of the party by joining MK. He was suspended in January, earlier this year but after the expulsion, he has three weeks to appeal the ruling.

"He [Zuma] actively impugned the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to dislodge the ANC from power while claiming that he had not severed his membership," said secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. 

Barring a successful appeal, Zuma is all set to lose the membership of ANC which he joined via its youth league as a teenager in 1959. 

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Watch | South Africa: ANC holds disciplinary hearing against Jacob Zuma

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Zuma spoils ANC's party 

The ANC lost majority in the parliament for the first time in 30 years after the election. Since then, the party has been operating a unity government with smaller rivals forming a part of it.   

Notably, Zuma, 82, had a falling out with the party after he was forced to resign as the president in 2018 over corruption scandals. While Zuma denied any wrongdoing, the party pushed him into a corner.  

Zuma, who is now the face of MK, helped the party win 58 out of the 400 parliamentary seats which dented ANC's chances of securing the majority. Notably, Zuma could not contest the elections as he has been given a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court. 

According to South Africa’s constitution, a person who has been convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison is not allowed to hold public office.

Also Read | South Africa: Former president Jacob Zuma barred from running in May election

Despite the shackles, Zuma has emerged as one of the prominent leaders of the new opposition. As the opposition leader, he has accused his successor and former ANC deputy, President Cyril Ramaphosa, of corruption and wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, he is also facing charges of corruption over a multi-billion dollar arms deal from the 1990s when he served as the vice president.

(With inputs from agencies)