“Freedom Fighters Are Now Working With White People” MK Party President Jacob Zuma Hit Out

Jacob Zuma, a former president of South Africa and leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has questioned the dedication of former freedom fighters who are now collaborating with white people, attacking them for abandoning the principles and goals of the liberation struggle.

On Sunday, 1 November 2026, during the MK Party’s last election rally before the local government elections, Zuma addressed thousands of supporters at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, Durban.

Those who fought apartheid but have since formed political and professional ties with those whose interests he thinks are at odds with the liberation movement’s original goals seem to have disappointed the former president.

His remarks occur at a time when political differences over South Africa’s post-apartheid trajectory are at an all-time high. These differences center on issues like economic transformation, racial inequality, and the degree to which the democratic government has fulfilled the freedom promises.

Zuma has maintained the MK Party’s image as a political movement hell-bent on exposing the post-apartheid political establishment for what it sees as its inability to grant true economic freedom to the vast majority of South Africans.

While speaking, he seemed to be reinforcing the party’s larger point that millions of Black citizens’ political independence has not necessarily translated into economic independence through his criticism of former comrades.

The remarks made by the former president also show how tense things have become among the liberation movement members of South Africa, especially between the MK Party and the African National Congress (ANC).

Thousands of activists and political leaders devoted their lives to bringing an end to racial segregation and creating a democratic South Africa, with the ANC serving as the pivotal force in the fight against apartheid for decades.

A number of liberationist factions have emerged due to differences in leadership, economic transformation, political alliances, and governance.

Given Zuma’s background in the African National Congress (ANC), where he was president before becoming president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, his criticisms take on added significance.

The country’s political scene has been dramatically changed by his exit from the ANC and subsequent leadership of the MK Party. The new party has emerged as a formidable rival to the ruling party.

After accusing some ANC leaders of betraying the movement’s original ideals, the head of the MK Party has often raised the question of whether the organization still speaks for the common people who backed the liberation struggle.

His most recent remarks will certainly spark more discussion regarding the significance of ex-freedom fighters in modern South African politics and whether racial unity in politics is a betrayal of liberation principles.

The aftereffects of apartheid, such as high unemployment, low wages, inequality, and unequal distribution of wealth, are still affecting South Africa today.

These issues continue to play a pivotal role in the competing political narratives of the various political parties as they seek support in the run-up to the local government elections.

During Zuma’s speech in KwaMashu, the MK Party made it clear that they intend to rely heavily on the liberation struggle’s legacies in their election campaign, casting doubt on the political decisions of individuals they perceive as having strayed from the original goals of the movement.

Source: https://x.com/ewnreporter/status/2116933125448077584

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