Former South African President Jacob Zuma returned to the campaign trail on Sunday, addressing thousands of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party supporters at Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban just days before the November 4 local government elections. The 84-year-old took to the stage to declare, “Thank you, I am back,” marking his first in-person public appearance since being discharged from Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg on October 17.
Hospitalization and Recovery Behind the Campaign Trail
Zuma’s return follows an 11-day hospital stay that kept him away from public engagements for weeks. He was admitted to the Pietermaritzburg facility on October 6 after falling ill during a campaign event in uMsinga, northern KwaZulu-Natal. The MK Party described the admission as routine, noting that medical staff identified fatigue and recommended a period of rest under supervision.
[WATCH] MK Party leader Jacob Zuma addresses speculation surrounding his health and possible arrest. He assured supporters that they should not be afraid, saying the party is currently governing and will continue doing so. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/xzp77FX1kx
During his roughly 45-minute address on Sunday, Zuma did not disclose further details regarding his exact medical condition. However, he sought to quell concerns among supporters, insisting there was no reason to worry about reports concerning his health and dismissing the illness as minor. He demonstrated his recovery on stage by breaking into song and dancing as supporters called for his signature struggle song, Umshini wam. His son, Duduzane Zuma, introduced him and remained close by throughout the appearance.
Renewed Calls for Ancestral Land Reclaiming
Beyond addressing his health and public return, Zuma used the final election rally to issue a fresh call for black South Africans to reclaim ancestral land. He told the crowd that the country’s land belongs to its people, urging voters to turn out in large numbers for Wednesday’s elections.
“We are going to start by taking back our country here,” Zuma told supporters, framing the ballot as an opportunity to secure governance. In a separate address to the nation on October 30, Zuma emphasized that the fight for power had been won, shifting the focus to governance. “Right now, we want every Black person to vote for a Black person, because we were found here in this land, the land of our forefathers,” he stated in that address.
Zuma also questioned the concept of political reconciliation with his opponents, asking the crowd why anyone would sit with an adversary and call them a brother. The rally concluded with Zuma once again leading the crowd in singing and dancing to Umshini wam.
Electoral Stakes in KwaZulu-Natal
The MK Party, which broke away from the African National Congress, made its electoral debut during the 2024 national and provincial elections and has since established itself as South Africa’s third-largest political force. The organization is now striving to translate that national presence into municipal representation during the upcoming local government polls.
The political landscape in KwaZulu-Natal remains fiercely contested. The ANC has deployed its secretary general to eThekwini for its final Siyanqoba rally at Curries Fountain Stadium as the party faces a difficult struggle to maintain its 26-year grip on governance in the province’s only metro. Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) held its final rally in Ulundi, and the MK Party positioned its closing event at Princess Magogo Stadium in eThekwini, where some polls predict it will emerge as the largest party.
