Zuma out, Dube in: Sanco appoints new KZN chair

Following the expulsion of Jacob Zuma, former deputy chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in KwaZulu-Natal, Lawrence Dube, has been appointed as the organisation’s new acting provincial chair with immediate effect.

Zuma was re-elected as the organisation’s chairperson in November last year.

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Why did Sanco expel Jacob Zuma?

Sanco stated that the reason for the expulsion was due to the fact that Zuma had not attended the last three Sanco office bearer meetings since his appointment and had not sent apologies to state why he was not attending.

Sanco said that as a result of this misconduct,  it is believed that Zuma has absconded.

After much deliberation, Sanco publicly confirmed its decision to remove him from the post.

The decision was announced by Sanco’s provincial secretary Sizwe Cele on Friday, 16 February 2024.

Zuma, MK party and ANC

Zuma has been busy campaigning for the Umkhonto Wesizwe  (MK) party in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng lately.

Sanco has over the years cemented itself as a strictly ANC-aligned organisation. It has previously explained that Zuma was still an ANC member when he was elected as its provincial chairperson for KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma was suspended from the ANC in late January, six weeks after he announced the establishment of the MK party.

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In an interview with SAfm on Tuesday, 9 January, Sanco president Richard Mkhongo explained that since the organisation was an alliance partner of the ANC, it was expected to campaign for the party in the 2024 provincial and national elections.

Having a non-ANC member chair did not sit well with the party.

Sanco however could not expel Zuma from his position for not being an ANC member anymore, as the Sanco constitution allows persons from all political affiliations to join.

Since Zuma’s expulsion, Cele has since told the media that a stipulation has been issued to fellow members, allowing a grace period of seven days within which they are expected to sever affiliations with political entities not aligned with the ANC.

Additional reporting by Itumeleng Mafisa