Former African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday threatened legal action against the party if it doesn’t reinstate his membership by January 31.

In a statement issued on behalf of the former President, the Jacob Zuma Foundation urged the ANC to prioritise “fairness, consistency, and adherence” and to ensure that party members are protected from “selective disciplinary actions” or “factional vendettas.”

In a letter of demand sent to the ANC by Attorneys representing the Patron of the JG Zuma Foundation, it said Zuma’s ANC membership was “unprocedural” in its termination late last year.

The letter highlighted irregularities that Zuma’s lawyers believe an independent legal review would likely find invalid, pointing to the ANC’s apparent failure or refusal to accede to the requirements to hold the disciplinary process and appeal hearing physically after having agreed to do so, and its failure to hold the process in public.

The letter also pointed to the ANC’s failure to give reasons for the dismissal of the appeal.

“…the ANC has failed to furnish the reasons for the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) ruling, only promising that the request would be forwarded to the Chairperson of the NDCA, Mr Johnny de Lange. To date no response has been received. This continues to frustrate our client's ability to protect his violated rights,” the letter said.

It further notes “troubling pronouncements” and actions by the ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who the lawyers said has reportedly engaged in acts of “intimidation, victimisation, and targeted insults” against Zuma's representative Tony Yengeni.

“Such conduct not only contravenes the ANC Constitution but also undermines the integrity of the organisation's internal processes. Despite these challenges, Comrade Yengeni, a disciplined member of the ANC, remains committed to representing President Zuma in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice,” the letter read.

Zuma’s lawyers demand that the ANC ensure that a “reasoned ruling” of the NCDA is furnished, and it wants the party to provide Zuma with the full record of the NDC/NDCA proceedings, including all outstanding documents and correspondence.

The lawyers also demanded the expulsion ruling is immediately reversed with immediate effect pending proper compliance with the ANC Constitution and the country’s Constitution.

The Attorneys highlighted that this matter extends beyond individual grievances, reflecting deeper concerns about the ANC's current trajectory.

It said there is a growing perception that the organisation is being led by individuals “whose actions resemble those of askaris”, undermining the movement's historic mission.

“The alarming trend of selling the organisation's core principles to the highest bidder has been vividly demonstrated by the so-called Government of National Unity coalition with the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus. These developments vindicate the warnings expressed by President Zuma on 16 December 2023.

“This case is not simply about one individual, it is about safeguarding the rights of all ANC members and preserving the values that have sustained the organisation for over a century. We remain hopeful that justice and fairness will prevail,” the letter said.