'Zuma can no longer be regarded as a member of the ANC'

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) says it's yet to meet to discuss former president Jacob Zuma’s suspension from the party.

Earlier this year, Zuma was suspended after refusing to endorse the governing party at the 29 May polls and later launching a rival political party.

At the time, Zuma was already estranged from the party he once led and was at the centre of corruption allegations.

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The party is yet to take harsher sanctions against Zuma for bringing the party into disrepute, despite facing mounting pressure to act.

With 36 days to go to the all-important elections, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said that Zuma's matter was not top of the party’s agenda.

"Will I want to call a NEC meeting to deal with specifically, or will leave the matters to the disciplinary committee – that’s a matter we still need to decide on. When the party meets from time to time, it will decide on what it wants to do. But between me and you and the public, he has left."

Mbalula said that Zuma had sealed his own fate.

"I'm saying Mr Zuma can no longer be regarded as a member of the ANC, given the fact that he's already been temporarily suspended as a member of the ANC, as we speak. He has now completely left and defined himself outside. He’s now an opposite leader of the ANC."