POLITICAL NEWS - He has joined one of the Zuma loyalists’ new parties in a bid to weaken the ANC’s base – and a dim hope of drawing a parliamentary salary, experts say.
The new political parties formed by staunch Jacob Zuma loyalists are anchored on sympathy for the former president, and attempts to weaken the ruling party’s power base – but they also have the allure of a possible five-year parliamentary income and all the associated perks.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) was yesterday joined by Zuma loyalist Mzwanele Manyi, former owner of the Gupta family’s media empire that included TV station ANN7 and The New Age newspaper – a party with weak prospects in the coming elections, political experts said.
Other equally weak parties include the African Content Movement (ACM,) formed by another Zuma loyalist and former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, as well as Andile Mngxitama’s Black First Land First (BLF).
Their ultimate goal, analysts said, was a seat or two in parliament and – if they are lucky – a fixed parliamentary income.
Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said not only were the parties extremely late in attempting to garner support for the elections, but they stood no chance of a meaningful role in politics because they had no constituency other than Zuma sympathisers.
