Former South African president Jacob Zuma and Ace Magashule, a former top ruling party official, have announced a political alliance ahead of the upcoming elections.
Zuma, who is 81 years old, and Magashule, a close ally and former ANC secretary-general, have both faced corruption allegations and lost their positions.
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The alliance called the “Magashule Zuma United Front,” aims to bring about a departure from traditional politics and adopt a more inclusive and people-centric approach, according to Magashule’s party, the African Congress for Transformation (ACT).
This alliance could further weaken support for the African National Congress (ANC), which is already struggling in the polls. There is a possibility that the ANC’s share of the vote could drop below 50 percent for the first time since the country’s democracy was established in 1994.
Hlengiwe Ndlovu, a lecturer at the Wits School of Governance in Johannesburg, believes that despite the corruption allegations against Zuma and Magashule, voters in poor communities may not be deterred.
Zuma had previously caused a split within the ANC by announcing his support for the radical new Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) party, rather than campaigning for the ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Magashule, who was expelled from the ANC last year due to corruption accusations, remains popular with parts of the left-leaning electorate. He formed the ACT in August.
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While this new alliance is evidence of deep divisions within the ruling party, political analyst Leslie Dikeni doubts whether it will pose a serious threat to the ANC.
The ANC, which has been in power for three decades, has seen its reputation tarnished by corruption allegations, mismanagement, and a weak economy plagued by power cuts, high unemployment, and rampant crime.
The formation of this alliance is seen as a crucial moment in shaping the political landscape and could potentially herald a new era of collaboration and change, according to the ACT. However, its impact on the ANC remains uncertain.
