Latest news with #Zuma
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Zuma's Secret Pitch to Morocco: Schools, Security, and Support for Landless South Africans
The ANC accused Jacob Zuma of betraying South Africa's foreign policy principles and demanded an apology from Morocco for using the South African flag during his visit. Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers Former president Jacob Zuma's recent visit to Morocco has ignited a political firestorm in Pretoria, but newly leaked documents reveal that his mission went far beyond diplomacy. In private meetings with Moroccan officials, Zuma made a bold and controversial request for strategic and financial backing to support new education, intelligence, and security initiatives in South Africa. According to documents now circulating among diplomatic insiders, Zuma appealed to the Moroccan government for help building two advanced education institutions: one in Pretoria and another in his rural hometown of Nkandla. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ These schools, he said, would focus on mathematics, science, coding, information technology, and artificial intelligence — skills he believes are essential for the future of South Africa's youth, particularly those left behind by decades of government failure. But Zuma's vision extended beyond classrooms. He also requested support for establishing a college of military intelligence and combat training, based in Pretoria but privately run. This proposed institution, according to the leaked notes, would serve as a training hub for defensive operations in response to what Zuma described as increasing threats to South African citizens. In a further indication of how deeply Zuma's political strategy diverges from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), he also sought what the documents refer to as 'security support.' While no specific operations or actions were detailed, Zuma reportedly told the Moroccans that his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party is preparing for a "second revolution," arguing that the ANC has betrayed the dreams of South Africa's black majority. 'The ANC has sold out,' Zuma said in one closed-door session, as quoted in the leaked documents. 'They have failed to return land to our people. Thirty years and nothing has changed. We are building a new movement to finish what we started.'Perhaps the most explosive aspect of Zuma's visit was his formal endorsement of Morocco's autonomy plan over Western Sahara. In a sharp departure from South Africa's long-standing support for the Polisario Front and its bid for independence, Zuma told Moroccan officials he understood that no sovereign state would simply give land away. He framed his support as a symbolic move on behalf of South Africa's landless poor.'I speak for the millions who remain dispossessed,' he said. 'If the ANC won't return land to its rightful owners at home, then I stand with those who have a plan — even if it is outside our borders.' Zuma said the plan to expropriate section 25 of the Constitution to make it possible to give land to black South Africans was shot down by many in his old party, the ANC. This statement, and Zuma's warm reception in Rabat, sparked immediate outrage in Pretoria. The ANC accused Zuma of betraying South Africa's foreign policy principles and demanded an apology from Morocco for using the South African flag during his visit. The party's leadership issued a blistering statement, calling Zuma's behaviour 'opportunistic' and 'shameful.'Yet the ANC's furious response also signals something deeper: a growing fear that Zuma's influence is expanding, particularly among disenfranchised voters. His MK party emerged as a surprise political force in recent elections, and his radical rhetoric is resonating with citizens frustrated by inequality, corruption, and the lack of land say Zuma's strategic pivot — combining education, military training, and foreign alliances — could redefine the country's opposition politics. While critics view it as reckless and divisive, supporters argue that Zuma is speaking the truth about a broken post-apartheid promise. As the ANC scrambles to contain the diplomatic fallout, Morocco appears undeterred. Its leadership continues to gain allies across Africa in its bid to resolve the Western Sahara conflict in its favor. With Zuma now among them, Rabat has landed another high-profile endorsement — and in doing so, may have fueled a new political battle on South African soil.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The Hypocrisy of Jacob Zuma: A Betrayal of Sahrawi Solidarity
A demonstration in support of the March for Freedom, which aimed to raise awareness of the Sahrawi cause and that of political prisoners held in Toulouse, France on April 19, 2025. Image: AFP Carl Niehaus As a Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), I am consumed by a righteous fury that words can scarcely contain. Jacob Zuma's recent reversal on Western Sahara is opportunism and inexplicable hypocrisy of the highest order – a man who, as South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, upheld Sahrawi solidarity with rhetorical flourish, now suddenly flip-flops to champion Morocco's so-called 'Autonomy Plan' for 'peace and development.' Twisting a dubious story about Morocco's 'historic support' for anti-apartheid exiles into justification for this betrayal, Zuma has sold his soul – and our principles – down the river. Allegations of financial lures, with Morocco's funds reportedly propping up his uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK party), swirl like a dark, toxic cloud, painting this flip-flop as crass opportunism at its ugliest. By displaying our national flag during his July 16, 2025, meeting in Rabat, Zuma falsely creates the impression that he speaks for all South Africans, undermining our sovereignty and the progressive foreign policy that has long stood with the oppressed Sahrawi people. This fractures African unity, weakens the African Union (AU), and emboldens oppressors across the continent. It is nothing less than counterrevolutionary betrayal – a stab in the back to the very ideals Zuma once professed to defend. Not in our name, Zuma! Your actions disgrace the liberation struggle and expose you as a fallen icon, prioritising personal gain over Pan-African solidarity. To appreciate the magnitude of this hypocrisy, let's revisit Zuma's record. During his presidency, Zuma aligned with South Africa's longstanding pro-Sahrawi stance, rooted in the anti-colonial ethos that progressive forces like the EFF champion as a cornerstone of our foreign policy. He hosted Polisario delegations, recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and condemned Morocco's occupation, viewing it as akin to apartheid's domination. This was no mere rhetoric; it reflected a commitment to self-determination for Africa's last colony. Yet, after having formed the MK party, Zuma's principles evaporated into thin air for the lure of easy money to finance the MK party, which is nothing but a family enterprise for himself and his close family members. Now, as MK party leader, he jets to Rabat on July 15-16, 2025, meets Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and declares his party 'recognises the historical and legal context underpinning Morocco's claim to Western Sahara.' He praises the 'Autonomy Plan' as a path to 'peace, development, and stability,' ignoring its repressive core. This sudden about-face is inexplicable, save for the whispers of self-interest. Zuma justifies this by invoking Morocco's 'historic support' – referencing ANC training camps in Oujda during exile. But as is the case with so many of Zuma's stories, this mostly fake and twisted narrative lacks authenticity: Morocco's aid was selective and overshadowed by its covert alliances with apartheid South Africa, including arms deals. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ To use it now as cover for endorsing colonialism is betrayal incarnate. And the financial allegations? Reports suggest Moroccan incentives have swayed the MK party's stance, turning policy into a transaction. These claims, emerging amid the MK party's internal turmoil, paint Zuma's pivot as crass opportunism – dirhams for doctrine, propping up a fledgling and faltering party at the expense of principles. The flag display is the crowning insult. In Rabat, Zuma unfurled our national colours during the meeting, creating the illusion of official South African endorsement. This falsely claims he speaks for the nation, undermining our sovereignty by misrepresenting our voice on the world stage. It erodes the progressive foreign policy that has positioned South Africa as a champion of decolonisation – recognising SADR, advocating referendums, and isolating occupiers. Zuma's opportunistic stunt fractures African unity, handing Morocco a propaganda win to weaken the AU's anti-colonial resolve and embolden oppressors from Rabat to Tel Aviv. This is counterrevolutionary betrayal: a former freedom fighter aiding imperialism, diluting the ethos of Mandela, Hani, and Sankara for personal vendettas and gain. The 'Autonomy Plan'? A Bantustan redux: nominal local rule under Rabat's boot, echoing apartheid's segregated Homelands – unviable puppets denying true freedom. As the late revolutionary icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela aptly put it in her 2010 speech on Western Sahara, 'We also experienced an attempt at so-called autonomy. Several 'Bantustans', which were ethnically based, totally unviable, 'independent' states, were created on 13% of the most unproductive parts of the country. They were led by puppet dictators. The people rejected these 'countries' outright despite some having been given official recognition by certain Western and African countries.' This led her to suggest that Morocco must have taken lessons from the apartheid regimes. To fully grasp why Zuma's endorsement of this plan is so odious, one must understand the short but brutal history of the oppression of the Sahrawi people. Western Sahara, a vast desert territory on Africa's northwest coast, was colonised by Spain in 1884, becoming known as Spanish Sahara. The indigenous Sahrawi, nomadic Arab-Berber tribes with a rich cultural heritage of poetry, camel herding, and resistance, endured harsh Spanish rule for nearly a century. By the 1970s, as decolonisation swept the continent, the Sahrawis formed the Polisario Front in 1973 to demand independence, inspired by global anti-colonial movements. Spain's withdrawal in 1975, amid UN calls for a self-determination referendum, opened the door to betrayal. Morocco, under King Hassan II, launched the 'Green March' – a mass civilian invasion backed by military forces – claiming historical ties dismissed by the International Court of Justice. Simultaneously, Mauritania invaded from the south. The secret Madrid Accords partitioned the territory, ignoring Sahrawi rights and sparking a guerrilla war. Mauritania withdrew in 1979, but Morocco annexed its share, escalating oppression. Moroccan forces bombed civilian camps with napalm and phosphorus, displacing over 100,000 Sahrawis into Algerian refugee camps, where generations have grown up in exile. Morocco's tactics grew more insidious: constructing the 2,700-kilometre Berm wall in the 1980s – fortified with landmines, radar, and troops – to bisect the territory and contain Polisario fighters. This 'wall of shame' symbolises division, trapping Sahrawis in poverty while Morocco exploits phosphates, fisheries, and potential oil reserves worth billions. Human rights abuses abound: arbitrary arrests, torture, forced disappearances, and suppression of Sahrawi culture and language. A 1991 UN ceasefire promised an independence referendum, but Morocco has obstructed it for decades, proposing instead the Autonomy Plan – limited self-rule under its sovereignty, excluding full freedom. The 2020 ceasefire collapse, triggered by Moroccan incursions, reignited low-intensity conflict, with Polisario resuming armed resistance. Over 170,000 Sahrawi refugees remain in Algerian camps, facing food shortages and harsh conditions, while occupied zones see protests met with brutality. This oppression, violating over 100 UN resolutions, echoes colonial patterns, denying self-determination and perpetuating Africa's last colony. As the EFF, we reject it with the utter contempt that it deserves; we will continue to protest, boycott, and demand justice. Zuma's actions won't deter us; they fuel our revolutionary fire. We call for probes into the MK party's financial ties with the very wealthy Moroccan Royal family, mass protests, and AU expulsion for Morocco. Forward to liberation for the Sahrawi people. The betrayal and oppression of the Sahrawi people will certainly not be tolerated in our name. * Carl Niehaus is a Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
After Zuma's visit to Morocco, South Africa hosts forum backing Polisario
Former South African President Jacob Zuma's recent endorsement of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara has sent shockwaves through political circles in both Pretoria and Algiers. In response, the South African Embassy in Algeria quickly organized a diplomatic forum in support of the Polisario Front. According to Algerian media, representatives from «around fifteen countries» attended the event, while the Polisario's press agency reported the presence of «about twenty ambassadors». Interestingly, both sources highlighted only two speeches: those of the South African ambassador and the Polisario representative in Algiers. The forum ended with a joint statement reiterating positions long familiar to attendees of similar pro-Polisario gatherings, whether held in Africa or elsewhere. Notably, South Africa had already held a session of this diplomatic forum in Algiers on April 2 9. It is unusual for such events, typically initiated by South Africa's diplomatic mission in Algeria in support of the Polisario, to occur in such close succession. This latest edition was clearly prompted by Jacob Zuma's backing, as leader of the MK party, for Morocco's autonomy plan in Western Sahara, a position strongly condemned by the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Just last week, Algeria sent envoys to Pretoria for discussions with South African officials and ANC members on the political fallout of Zuma's stance, and its implications for South Africa's recognition of the so-called «SADR», which it officially recognized in 2004. The issue was also raised on July 18 in Algiers during a meeting between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and his Polisario «counterpart», Mohamed Yeslem Beissat.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
ANC urges Morocco to «apologize» for use of South African flag during Jacob Zuma visit
After several days of silence, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has finally responded to former President Jacob Zuma's show of support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. Zuma, who now heads the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, had sparked controversy with his position. «We condemn the opportunistic involvement of Jacob Zuma, who has aligned himself with efforts that erode South Africa's standing in the international commuity and betray the principles of non-alignment, peace, and anti-colonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold», the ANC said in a statement. «It is shameful that a former leader of a liberation movement s betraying our historical mission and showing his true colors as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa and world that is more humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free». The ANC concluded this section of its statement, addressing Zuma's visit to Morocco, by reaffirming its position: «We reiterate our call for the completion of the decolonization process in Africa, in order to safeguard the right to self-determination for African peoples still under colonial rule. The ANC calls upon all progressive forces within the continent and around the world to intensify their solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination». The South African Flag and a Diplomatic Incident The party also expressed «deep concern over a troubling situation involving the Kingdom of Morocco». It condemned the use of South Africa's national flag during a bilateral meeting with an opposition figure «who does not represent the democratically elected government of South Africa». «This reckless and provocative act constitutes a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and constitutes an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs. It is a dangerous attempt to delegitimize our constitutional order and discredit the authority of a democratically elected government», the ANC stated. «The inclusion of our national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign powers is not only misleading but part of a broader agenda of foreign interference», Ramaphosa's party added. The ANC has called on the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a formal diplomatic protest to Morocco and to demand immediate clarification and an official apology from Moroccan authorities. This diplomatic protest, however, comes as a surprise. The South African flag was visibly displayed, alongside the Algerian flag, during a meeting in December 2023 between the ANC's secretary-general and Salah Goudjil, the former president of Algeria's Upper House. The flag was also present during talks between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and senior ANC officials. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma's MK party, now the country's third-largest political force, has positioned itself as a leading opponent of President Ramaphosa's administration. Political tensions have been mounting in recent weeks. On Friday, MK supporters held a demonstration outside the presidential palace in Pretoria, calling for .
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
«We won't criticize him publicly», says Polisario after Zuma's Morocco visit and Sahara support
South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma remains under scrutiny following his recent visit to Morocco, where he expressed support for the 2007 autonomy plan for the Sahara in his capacity as leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. The latest reaction comes from Mohamed Yeslem Beisat, the Polisario's former ambassador to South Africa and «foreign minister» of the self-proclaimed «SADR». «We as Polisario will never make public comments about comrade Jacob Zuma because of his age and because he has been friends with us for the last 50 years», Beisat told South Africa's Mail & Guardian. «Unless we meet and hear from him directly, we will never make Morocco happy by speaking badly or negatively about him», he added. Zuma's position has triggered strong political backlash in South Africa. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) condemned the move and called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand an official apology from Morocco for displaying the South African flag during a partisan meeting. Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also weighed in. On Monday, he harshly criticized Zuma, calling him a «sellout». In response, Magasela Mzobe, head of the MK party's presidential office, defended Zuma's stance. He praised Morocco as «a prime example of how democracy and modernity can coexist under traditional leadership». Mzobe argued that after decades of deadlock, the most pragmatic solution is autonomy within Morocco, akin to South African provinces with self-governance under one national flag. «That's why we propose an autonomous region of Sahrawis under one country and one flag, Morocco», he argued. He added that the MK party intends to meet with the Polisario Front to explain why it believes autonomy, rather than independence, is the most realistic path forward after decades of unresolved conflict. It is worth noting that Zuma and a delegation from the MK party visited Morocco last week, meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat. During the visit, Zuma described Morocco's autonomy proposal as «a meaningful framework for local governance that also upholds Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara». The visit took place just weeks after the MK party, founded in December 2023 and now the third-largest political force in South Africa's National Assembly, officially recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara.
