Screengrab of the media briefing by Jacob Zuma.
Former president and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party leader Jacob Zuma said there is no government of national unity (GNU) in South Africa.
Zuma made the remarks during what the MK party called a “pivotal media conference” in Sandton on Sunday.
In a statement read out by MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela on behalf of Zuma, the former president claimed the elections were rigged, not free and fair and his party were robbed during the elections.
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“We need to educate our people that there is no government of national unity in South Africa. There is a white-led unholy alliance between the DA and the ANC of Ramaphosa. It is sponsored by big business and it is for the benefit of the markets and not the people. It must be crushed before it finds its feet.”
Zuma also claimed the media is selling the story of the government of national unity” when they know there is no such thing.”
“We have asked our lawyers to write a letter of demand to the SABC to stop deliberately misleading South Africans by using terms like ‘government of national unity’ or government of provincial unity. to refer to the president sellout coalition.
“This is nothing but the return of apartheid and colonialism. We know that the private media has to serve its masters, but the SABC belongs to us. It has no right to feed our people with lies and to pursue narrow agendas at our expense. If there is a government of national unity, why is its founding documents only signed by Mbalula and Helen Zille,” Zuma said.
Zuma claimed the 2024 election has also resulted in the “consolidation of right-wing forces and reactionary forces.
“They are opposed to economic freedom, racial economic transformation, racial equality and land repossession, led by the ANC of Ramaphosa and the Democratic Alliance which is the replacement of the racist National Party of Hendrik Verwoerd, BJ Vorster, PW Botha and FW de Klerk.
“Their regimes could not have lasted even one day without black collaborators…Today all those sellout forces have been replaced by the ANC of Ramaphosa which has taken us back to 1948. Fortunately, millions and millions of our people have realised that the road to freedom starts with the removal of the ANC of Ramaphosa,” Zuma said.
Zuma said the MK party is approaching the International Court over their vote rigging claims. He claimed “the judges in South Africa make judgments according to their thinking, not facts.”
“We have instructed our legal team to take any steps possible both inside of South Africa and internationally to ensure that justice is done. We cannot allow a situation where millions of votes have been stolen.”
Zuma also announced the party will participate in the legislative arm of the state, along with the Progress Caucus which includes the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Al Jama-ah, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), United African Transformation, and United Democratic Movement (UDM).
He said the results announced by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) are not a true reflection of what is happening.
“We have tried all peaceful means to address our grievances. We call on all our supporters to be patients even in the midst of all provocations by institutions of democracy.”
“It is our view that the premature release of the election results is illegal…The newly formed progressive caucus of parties commands close to 30% of seats in the National Assembly. If it was not for electoral fraud, that number would be far higher.”
Zuma also said it is not a coincidence that he addressed the nation six months ago on 16 December.
“I gave seven reasons why I had come to the difficult decision that I would campaign and vote for uMkhonto weSizwe and not for the sellout ANC of Ramaphosa. I also called for the unity of the left and all progressive forces.
“On 16 December 2023, I said, I call on all South Africans to join me in taking this important step and vote for the MK party and any other progressive parties which seeks total liberation and the return of our land to its righful owners, the African people,” Zuma said.
MK party MP’s boycotted the first sitting of the National Assembly on Friday after filing a complaint at the Constitutional Court alleging vote-rigging, which the court dismissed as without merit.
Zuma said the MK party and the progressive parties will form the official opposition.
He said the MK party will also soon announce the programme of patriotic forces inside and outside Parliament.
“The patriotic front will carry the struggle outside of Parliament.”
Zuma said The MK party’s 58 MPs, who boycotted the first sitting of National Assembly for the seventh administration, will participate in the house as part of the official opposition after taking legal advice.
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