Former South African President Jacob Zuma expressed deep concern about the pervasive poverty affecting black South Africans. During a rally at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, Zuma vowed to create jobs and combat crime as he unveiled the manifesto of his new political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party), in preparation for the upcoming national elections.

Zuma promised to establish factories that would generate employment for many people and pledged to provide free education for the youth of the nation.

“We want our children to study for free, especially those from poor households because the poverty we have was not created by us. It was created by settlers who took everything, including our land. We’ll take all those things back, make money and educate our children,”

he stated to his supporters.

Additionally, Zuma pledged to amend the country’s Constitution to restore greater authority to traditional leaders. He criticized the current system for reducing their influence by granting more power to magistrates and judges.

The MK Party, established in December last year, has quickly become a notable contender in South Africa’s political landscape. Zuma, despite his legal challenges, remains a central figure in the party’s push for electoral success.

Currently, Zuma is contesting a ruling by the Independent Electoral Commission that disqualified him from running in the election due to his criminal record. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to testify before a judicial commission investigating corruption during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.

After being compelled to resign in 2018 amid extensive corruption allegations, Zuma is making a political comeback, aiming once again for the presidency.

Zuma highlighted the acute unemployment and substandard living conditions affecting many black South Africans.

“When they talk about unemployment, they are talking about us, there is nobody else. When they talk about people who live in shacks, that is us, there is nobody else who lives in shacks except us,”

he emphasized, addressing the crowd that included supporters from provinces like Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, areas where he retains substantial backing.

The former president argued that the high crime rates in South Africa are a direct consequence of the severe poverty experienced by black communities.

“Our hunger and poverty is what creates a perception that we are criminals, we don’t have a brain, we have nothing. That time is over, because we are good people who are giving, but some people are pushing us towards criminality,”

he remarked.

Zuma declared that his party’s goal is to secure more than 65% of the national vote in the upcoming elections, which would enable them to implement significant changes to the country’s laws.

In contrast, recent polls indicate that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) might receive less than 50% of the vote, potentially forcing them to form coalitions with smaller parties to maintain power.

South Africans are set to vote on May 29, with Zuma’s MK Party positioned as a formidable challenger in the political arena.