We Think We Are Slave: Jacob Zuma’s Blunt Message After the Elections

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party president Jacob Zuma has claimed that many South Africans feel as though they are still living like slaves in their own country, despite the country having achieved political freedom.

Zuma made the remarks during a media briefing in Durban on Friday, as provisional results from the 2026 local government elections continued to emerge. The briefing was held at the Electoral Commission’s Provincial Results Operations Centre at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).

“We have reached a point where we think we are slaves, we all of us. It’s a reality. You think, you feel you are slaves,” Zuma said.

The former president linked this feeling to the way people vote, arguing that South Africans who feel powerless have struggled to unite behind a single political movement capable of taking control. He suggested that indigenous people continue to divide their support among different parties, which he described as a sign of weakness after years of struggle.

Zuma has previously made similar arguments about what he considers unfinished work in South Africa’s liberation struggle. During recent campaign appearances, he repeatedly called on supporters to take back control of the country and its land, with particular emphasis on local government.

His comments come as the MK Party records strong support in KwaZulu-Natal, with provisional election results indicating significant gains in municipalities, including eThekwini.

During Friday’s briefing, Zuma and other senior MK Party representatives also discussed possible coalition arrangements and the party’s plans following the elections. The former president has previously indicated that the MK Party is prepared to work with other political organisations if doing so would help place ordinary people at the centre of government.

Throughout the election campaign, Zuma criticised the Government of National Unity, arguing that many black South Africans continue to experience economic hardship despite the country having attained political freedom.

The 84-year-old former president has remained active in the party’s campaign after recovering from an illness earlier in the year. His message about incomplete liberation continues to resonate with some supporters, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. However, political opponents have criticised his use of the word “slaves”, arguing that such language could deepen divisions.

With the final election results expected soon, Zuma’s remarks have renewed debate about economic freedom, inequality and political power in South Africa. While his supporters see his comments as a reflection of ongoing challenges involving unemployment, service delivery and poverty, critics question whether such language is appropriate in the country’s current political climate.

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