Zuma 'return to ANC possible'

Analysts say he wants to exploit the factions.

- Eric Naki

While it looks impossible that former president Jacob Zuma could ever return to the ANC, there is a move towards restoring the ANC to its "glory days" through a merger with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and others, but all will be on Zuma's terms, experts say.

However, such a merger, if it happens, is not meant to benefit the people, but to prop up Zuma and get out of his troubles.

For that to happen it would involve removing President Cyril Ramaphosa through a faction that supports an alliance with the MK and not with the DA, says independent political analyst Sandile Swana.

This sentiment was expressed by fellow analyst Zakhele Ndlovu, politics lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who said that if the faction sympathetic to Zuma wins a future ANC election, he could be back to lead the party.

He said Zuma by himself had no chance of returning to the ANC, but as the ANC was no longer the same, he could make a return by collaborating with factions within the ANC.