Former South African President Jacob Zuma criticized the country’s new coalition government on Sunday, calling for fresh elections.
“There must be a repeat. No, there must be an election,” said Zuma, who leads the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, at a press briefing in Johannesburg.
The MK Party, which finished third in the May 29 elections, announced that none of its 58 newly elected lawmakers would join the ruling coalition.
Zuma has previously stated that his party would not negotiate while Cyril Ramaphosa remains the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), driven by Zuma’s animosity towards his successor.
Ramaphosa was re-elected as president for a second term on Friday after the ANC formed a dramatic late coalition deal with other parties.
Ramaphosa, 71, secured his second term with the support of lawmakers from the Democratic Alliance, the country’s second-largest party, and several smaller parties.
Zuma expressed widespread dissatisfaction among political parties, accusing the coalition of election irregularities. He announced plans to take the issue to international courts, citing a lack of trust in South African judges.
“We are going to the international court… so that this country does not have South African judges doing so,” he stated.
Zuma also called for new elections, citing reports of irregularities at polling stations.
“Let us see the votes properly. We have many stories about votes. Some burnt. You don’t even need to listen to what people have to say,” he added.
Zuma, who resigned as president in disgrace in 2018 amid corruption allegations, reiterated his demand for fresh elections.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected by lawmakers for a second term on Friday following a coalition deal between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance.
Ramaphosa defeated surprise candidate Julius Malema, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters, with the support of the Democratic Alliance and other parties, marking the country’s first national coalition government.
