Proceedings of The National Conference
On Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2012
Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
March 29-31, 2012
One Hundred Years Later: A Qualitative Analysis of the Progression of the
African National Congress through the Presidency of Jacob Zuma Using the
Marxist Theory
Andrew Hairston
Department of Political Science
Howard University
Washington, D.C 20059
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura
Abstract
In January of 1912, the African National Congress (ANC) was founded in South Africa to serve as a voice for the
oppressed, indigenous people who longed for social, political and economic equality in their country. In January of
2012, the people of South Africa and members of the Black Diaspora commemorated the significant achievements
of 100 years of the party’s political and social activism. Through its progression, the party has served as a breeding
ground for South Africa’s greatest advocates for human rights and equality, such as Nelson Mandela and Walter
Sisulu. One hundred years later, following the successful struggle against apartheid, the ANC has grown to be a
dominant force in South African politics. The party has a strong presence in South African Parliament, as well as on
the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa. The current President of the Republic of South Africa,
Jacob Zuma, was previously the Chairman of the ANC, showing the political leverage that the party holds. The
major questions under analysis in this research are as follows: (a) How has President Zuma’s policy formulation
advanced the original mission of the ANC? (b) How does Marxist Theory fit into President Zuma’s political
ideology and execution? (c) What is the current state of the ANC as a result of President Zuma’s policy
implementation? (d) What direction will the ANC take under President Zuma’s leadership as it enters its second
century of existence? This essay hypothesizes that President Zuma’s use of Marxist Theory in his policy formulation
has yielded great progressive achievements for the ANC since its founding in 1912. This research employs scholarly
journals, ANC documents, addresses by President Zuma, and expert interviews to test the hypothesis. Furthermore,
the use of qualitative methodology manifests the implementation of various policies in South Africa by President
Zuma and the ANC that have served to establish the country’s formidable presence in Sub-Saharan Africa and the
world.
Keywords: Marxist Theory, African National Congress, Jacob Zuma
1. Introduction
Jacob Zuma was elected as the third President of the post-apartheid Republic of South Africa on May 9, 2009,
marking the end to a controversial five-year power struggle between him and his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki. Both
men are members of the African National Congress (ANC), which is the same South African political party of
legendary activists such as Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela. In the past two and a half years, President Zuma has
implemented policies in the areas of public housing and education that reflect a socialist, or Marxist, ideology.
Marxism, as defined by the Webster Collegiate Dictionary, is the political and economic philosophy of Karl Marx in
which the concept of the class struggle is the foundation of historical change. The ultimate goal of Marxism is to
create a classless society in which economic disparities do not divide citizens. The issue of the class struggle has
been a prominent one in South African history, beginning with the Dutch colonization of modern day Cape Town in
1652. Zuma has been a proponent of several policies that reflect this ideology, such as a universal health care
package for South Africa, antiretroviral treatment for all infants diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and regulations on
uncontrolled business expansion in the republic.
This paper utilizes Marxist Theory to assess how Jacob Zuma’s socialist policies correlate to the original mission
of the ANC. The political party celebrated its 100-year anniversary in January of 2012, and this research seeks to
emphasize President Zuma’s contributions to the ANC through his policy formulation. Since the ANC has been an
instrumental agent in advancing civil rights, this paper also seeks to assess the state and influence of the political
party in the present day, with a particular emphasis on President Zuma. The paper encompasses the beginning of
President Zuma’s term in 2009 until the present. The major research questions probed in this study are the
following: (a) How has President Zuma’s policy formulation advanced the original mission of the ANC? (b) How
does Marxist Theory fit into President Zuma’s political ideology and execution? (c) What is the current state of the
ANC as a result of President Zuma’s policy implementation? (d) What direction will the ANC take under President
Zuma’s leadership as it enters its second century of existence? The importance of this essay is that it seeks to
provide a more thorough understanding of the contributions of the ANC to South African and global politics in the
21st Century. The party has been relevant for the past 100 years, and it will continue to be relevant as the world
becomes even more globalized.
2. Literature Review
Many scholars have begun to explore the effects of President Zuma’s policies since he took office in 2009. These
scholars have also analyzed the incorporation of political ideology into President Zuma’s policy implementation.
These authors have researched the influence of the Communist Party on the ANC in the mid-20th Century, as well as
the original mission of social justice advocated by the ANC at the time of its founding. An example is the call for
economic equality among racial and social classes. The following is a thematic sample review of works on various
scholarly opinions of President Zuma’s effectiveness as a leader and his incorporation of political ideology into his
policy formulation and implementation.
State of the Nation: South Africa 2007 (2007) by Sakhela Buhlungu, John Daniel, and Roger Southall manifests
how ANC activists often view liberal democratic institutions as western impositions that entrench the privileges of a
property-owning white elite. This ideology was adopted by Jacob Zuma in his early political career and continues to
influence his policymaking as the President of South Africa
. The Making of Modern South Africa: Conquest, Apartheid, Democracy (2007) by Nigel Worden asserts how
Jacob Zuma appealed to typically Marxist inclined constituencies when he began his journey to become the
President of South Africa. These groups included the youth, unions, and Communist Party supporters of the ANC
alliance. Zuma appealed to these groups by expressing his disagreement with neo-liberal economic policies that
maintained the socioeconomic status of the white elite in South Africa.
Culture & Civilization: Globalism (2011) by Irving Louis Horowitz highlights the effects of the implementation of
Marxist policies on President Zuma’s constituency in South Africa. Through Zuma’s policies, the ANC has been
able to maintain its diverse constituency, primarily through the idea of fair economic distribution throughout the
citizenry of the country.
John L. Jackson and David Kyuman Kim further expound upon President Zuma’s philosophy of economic
equalization in Race, Religion, and Late Democracy (2011). In this scholarly work, President Zuma is portrayed as a
political leader who is unafraid to propose the idea of Marxist wealth redistribution to the comfortable upper
echelons of the South African social hierarchy.
Africa and the West: From Colonialism to Independence, 1875 to the Present (2010) by William H. Worger,
Nancy L. Clark, and Edward A. Alpers lauds Presidents Mbeki and Zuma as advocates for the restoration of
sustainable African nations in the face of the ill effects of colonialism on African independence.
In Roots: The History How Britain Carved South Africa's Neo-Liberal Age, 1806-1996 (2011) by Thembinkosi
Lehloesa, President Zuma is portrayed as a man who is invested in the welfare of the ANC through his socialist
policies that advocate for the provision of essential resources to all South Africans at a reasonable cost to citizens
and the government. Through this diverse collection of scholarly literature, President Zuma’s Marxist ideology is
highlighted and made relevant to the current state of the ANC.
The research of this paper emphasizes the contributions of President Zuma’s Marxist policies in areas concerning
the environment, health care and international relations in the framework of current South African politics. This
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research also emphasizes the shaping of President Zuma’s policies based upon the presidency of his predecessor,
Thabo Mbeki.
3. Theoretical Framework and Research Methodology
The main theory that is used in this scholarly inquiry is Marxist Theory. The Marxist Theory is derived from the
writings of political philosopher Karl Marx. Marxist Theory rejects the class system that is inevitably perpetuated by
capitalism, and it advocates for the ultimate abolishment of any system that is based in social hierarchy. Capitalism
is distinctive, Marx argues, in that it involves not merely the exchange of commodities, but the advancement of
capital, in the form of money, with the purpose of generating profit through the purchase of commodities and their
transformation into other commodities which can command a higher price, and thus yield a profit. Marx claims that
no previous theorist had been able adequately to explain how capitalism as a whole can make a profit. Marxist
Theory supports the theory of wealth redistribution through government aid programs targeted at those who are less
fortunate in a society (Merriam-Webster, 2011).
This theory is incorporated into this research through President Zuma’s political ideology. Through the
implementation of social and economic policies that reflect Marxism, President Zuma has manifested the ANC’s
original mission of social equality and justice for all, regardless of race, economic status or gender. During his
tenure as the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma has advocated for several policies that are aligned with Marxist
Theory, such as universal health care and the support of equitable redistribution of the nation’s wealth. Although
President Zuma is not an extreme Marxist, in the sense that he wants to completely eliminate the class system in
South Africa, he manifests the key principles of the ideology through his policy formulation.
This research employs qualitative analysis, which is supplemented by the study of scholarly articles, policy papers,
and academic textbooks on the subject. Qualitative research is used to investigate the various social and economic
policies of President Zuma that contribute to his Marxist ideology. This essay hypothesizes that President Zuma’s
use of Marxist Theory in his policy formulation has yielded great progressive achievements for the ANC since its
founding in 1912. The methodology and the hypothesis allow one to correlate President Zuma’s Marxist ideology
with the ideologies of the founders of the ANC.
The paper hypothesizes that President Zuma’s use of the Marxist theory has yielded the advancement of the
original mission of the ANC. The following analysis is conducted through the historical study of documents such as
the early ANC constitution, juxtaposed to the modern public (economic and social) policies of President Zuma. The
unit of analysis is the political party because the paper analyzes the political development of the ANC through the
ideologies of its past and current members. The level of analysis is micro because this research looks at the ANC’s
position in recent years, specifically focusing on the manifestation of its principles in President Zuma’s policy
formulation. The data collection technique utilized for this study is the documentary analysis of articles, Internet
sources, papers, and official documents concerning President Zuma and the ANC. This technique is practical
because of the large scope of knowledge that it offers to the research, as well as the diversity of the sources that are
utilized in the study. These data sources were augmented by expert interviews.
4. Data Analysis
The analysis of this study is comprised of two subsections. The first subsection analyzes the existing scholarship on
President Zuma’s Marxist ideology through the evaluation of books, articles, and presidential addresses. The second
subsection examines the expert opinions of two scholars with specialties in South African politics. This section
ultimately elicits the prominent ways in which President Zuma’s policy formulation has manifested Marxist thought.
4.1. Analysis of Existing Scholarship
President Zuma has been clear in his socialist ideologies since he assumed the presidency of South Africa. He has
displayed his utilization of Marxist policies to advance the global influence of the ANC, as well as to improve
efficiency in government operations. This is evident in the following excerpt from a speech in which President
Zuma addresses the Socialist International Commission for a Sustainable World Society on March 2, 2009 in
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa:
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Our message for what we expect in Durban, which we derived to a large extent from the informal consultations, is
the following: Firstly, the outcome in Durban should be balanced, fair and credible, and be one that preserves and
strengthens the multilateral rules-based response to climate change. The approach to reach a balanced, fair and
credible outcome in Durban must be informed by the principles that form the basis of UNFCCC climate change
negotiations. These principles include multilateralism, environmental integrity, fairness (based on the principle of
common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities, equity,) and the honouring of all international
commitments and undertakings made in the climate change process. Secondly, the Cancun Agreements must be
operationalised, including the establishment of the key mechanisms and institutional arrangements agreed to in
Cancun. The Green Climate Fund represents a centre piece for a broader set of outcomes for Durban. Developing
countries demand a prompt start for the Fund through its early and initial capitalization. Thirdly, for Durban to be
successful we have to do more than making the Cancun Agreements operational. We have no option but to deal
with the outstanding political issues remaining from the Bali Roadmap. This means finding a resolution to the
issue of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and agreeing on the legal nature of a future
climate change system. Fourthly, adaptation is an essential element of the outcome in Durban as it is a key priority
for many developing countries, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries and
Africa. The current fragmented approach to adaptation must be addressed in a more coherent manner and give
equal priority to adaptation and mitigation. Finally, any outcome in Durban has to be adequate enough to adhere to
the principle of environmental integrity. In this context the low level of ambition is a serious concern (Zuma,
2009).
In this address, President Zuma’s focus on environmental sustainability in Durban is manifested from his socialist
ideology. The ANC position has been more accommodating to the interests of corporations. The emphasis on
cohesion and collaboration among various entities reflects the original ideology of the African National Congress.
This aspect of President Zuma’s ideology aligns with the continuation of President Mbeki’s land commission and its
goal of equitable redistribution of South African land. This speech serves as a strong example of the integration of
Zuma’s Marxist Theory and the founding principles of the century-old African National Congress. President Zuma’s
unrelenting application of socialist principles to public policy is evident through addresses such as the
aforementioned one, which convey a commitment to equity in policy reform. Marxist environmental policy reform
can be observed in the ANC promoted campaign to provide free basic water to controlled municipalities (DWAF
2000). This program was initiated under President Mbeki’s administration and continued under the presidency of
Jacob Zuma. This policy demonstrates the dedication of the ANC to enhancing the environmental quality of postapartheid South Africa, while providing essential services to the citizens of the country, in accordance with Marxist
principles. President Zuma also manifests a Marxist ideology in his treatment of health care in modern South Africa,
particularly focusing on the HIV/AIDS crisis in the country. The AIDS epidemic has affected sub-Saharan Africa,
particularly South Africa, in a significant way. President Mbeki initiated a program entitled the AIDS Strategic Plan
for 2007-2011 (Government of South Africa, 2007), which has been supported and implemented by President Zuma.
This plan includes a set of objectives aimed at reducing vulnerability to HIV infection and the impact of AIDS by
reducing gender inequality and gender-based violence, acceleration poverty reduction strategies, and strengthening
safety nets (Government of South Africa, 2007: 61-63).
The AIDS Strategic Plan sets forth several interventions to combat the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in South
Africa, including: scaling up access to government poverty alleviation programs, ensuring equitable provision of
basic social services (especially in rural and informal settings), introducing a sustainable income transfer system for
poor families, implementing all national policies and legislation aimed at improving the status of women, increasing
the proportion of vulnerable children accessing social grants, and recruiting and training 25,000 new community
care givers by 2011 and paying each of them a stipend (Government of South Africa, 2007: 61-63, 95-96). These
requirements recognize the necessity for a strong social protection to mitigate the epidemic’s impact. The social
transfer system that is promoted by the plan represents an effective tool for poverty-alleviation in South Africa,
especially the child support grant (Lund, 2007).
Substantial evidence has been offered to support the poverty-reducing and developmental functions of such grants
in South Africa. The observed effects include improved school enrollment, reduced stunting in children and better
nutrition levels (Aguero, Carter and Woodard, 2006:25). The protection package advocated by the Strategic Plan
includes job creation strategies that benefit the masses of low-skilled jobless workers, a restructured system of social
transfers, a more resolute strategy to ensure food security, and a massive boost for community social services, which
holds true to Marxist Theory and the mission of the African National Congress (African National Congress 2001).
President Zuma’s continuation of the HIV/AIDS policies implemented during President Mbeki’s administration
manifests the commitment of the ANC to ending the epidemic in South Africa.
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4.2. Expert Interviews
Dr. Robert Edgar (Professor of African Studies, Howard University) and Dr. Olaylwola Abegunrin (Professor of
Political Science, Howard University) offered their expert opinions on the incorporation of Marxist theory into
President Zuma’s policy formulation. Both professors have research interests in Southern African political and
social movements. Dr. Edgar begins by saying that Marxist theory plays a minimal role in the formulation of
economic policy under President Zuma’s administration, albeit he concedes later that the theory is evident in certain
policy areas. He says that Marxist theory manifests itself through the HIV/AIDS policy that was implemented by
President Mbeki and strengthened under President Zuma. President Zuma has made the administration of antiretroviral drugs a priority, and the rates of HIV/AIDS in South Africa are expected to decline as a result of this
strengthened policy, according to Dr. Edgar. President Zuma’s first Health Minister, Barbara Hogan, promoted a
100% positive AIDS treatment program, which has been continued by the current Health Minster, Erin Motsoaledi;
The president has also continued a grant that was initiated under his predecessor that is targeted at providing support
to South Africans with low incomes. Dr. Edgar also asserts that at national health insurance program has been
introduced under President Zuma’s administration, in a similar fashion to the United States. Dr. Edgar spoke about
the South African Communist’s party influence on the ANC when they were in exile. This influence is manifested
through President Zuma’s increased influence of the Communist party and the COSATU (Congress of South
African Trade Unions) party in critical administrative roles of his government (Personal Interview, Edgar, 2012).
Dr. Abegunrin maintains that President Zuma began as a Marxist in his earlier years, and, although he has
compromised on certain issues as the President, he still maintains his mission for social justice. His Marxist ideology
is continually manifested through his health policy, primarily his stance on the treatment of HIV/AIDS, as well as
the issue of the redistribution of land. President Zuma has continued the work of the land commission established by
his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki. Dr. Abegunrin further asserts that President Zuma and Julius Malema, the former
leader of the ANC-Youth League, were ideologically aligned when President Zuma was a young man. As the
president of South Africa, Zuma has become more diplomatic in his dealings and in the implementation of policies.
(Personal Interview, Abegunrin, 2012) The opinions of both scholars converge upon the fact that President Zuma’s
HIV/AIDS policy has been the best manifestation of his Marxist ideology, as well as his attempts to pass a national
healthcare coverage bill.
5. Conclusion
Through the evidence presented in this research, it is apparent that the utilization of Marxist Theory by President
Jacob Zuma has played a significant role in reconfiguring the 100-year-old legacy of the ANC. Since assuming the
presidency in 2009, Zuma has displayed a commitment to the preservation of the ANC, as well as to the
implementation of Marxist policies that will benefit historically disadvantaged South Africans. He is an advocate for
economic equalization, freedom and prosperity, which holds true to the ideologies of other prominent ANC
members. Jacob Zuma’s Marxist ideology has strengthened the ANC in the 21st Century and continues to build the
legacy established by the political party over the past century.
President Zuma’s focus on environmental sustainability, the positioning of South Africa as a global power, and the
attention to the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic manifest his commitment to Marxist Theory and the
advancement of the ANC’s mission. Although he now has a role as a diplomat, President Zuma has maintained his
commitment to social justice through his policy implementation. As he continues through his tenure as the President
of the Republic of South Africa, these policies will continue to be implemented to reverse the ill effects of apartheid
on the economic vitality of Blacks in South Africa.
6. References
1. Abegunrin, Olaylwola. January 26, 2012. “The Incorporation of Marxism into the Political Ideology of Jacob
Zuma.” (Andrew Hairston, Interviewer).
2.African National Congress. 2001. A National Guideline on Home-based Care and Community-based Care.
Johannesburg: African National Congress.
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3. Aguero, J.M. Carter, M.R and Woolard, I. 2006. The Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers on Nutrition: The
South African Child Support Grant. Washington, DC: USAID and DFID.
4. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). 2000. Delivery of Free Water. Pretoria, South Africa:
South African Government Printing Press.
5. Government of South Africa. 2007. HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2007-2011. Pretoria,
South Africa: Government of South Africa.
6. Edgar, Robert. January 25, 2012. “An Analysis of Jacob Zuma’s Presidency.” (Andrew Hairston, Interviewer).
7. Horowitz, Irving Louis. 2011. Culture & Civilization: Globalism. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
8. Jackson, John and Kim, David. 2011. Race, Religion, and Late Democracy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
9. Lehloesa, Thembinkosi. 2011. Roots: The History How Britain Carved South Africa's Neo-Liberal Age, 18061996. New York, NY: XLibris.
10. Lund, F. 2007. Changing Social policy: The Child Support Grant in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa.
HSRC Press.
11. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. “Marxism.” 2011. Print.
12. Sakhela Buhlungu, John Daniel, Roger Southall, Jessica Lutchman (eds). 2007. State of the Nation: South
Africa 2007. Pretoria, South Africa: South African Government Printing Press.
13. William H. Worger, Nancy L. Clark, and Edward L. Alpers. 2010. Africa and the West: From Colonialism to
Independence, 1875 to the Present. London, England: Oxford University Press.
14. Worden, Nigel. 2007. The Making of Modern South Africa: Conquest, Apartheid, Democracy. New York, NY:
Blackwell.
15. Zuma, Jacob. 2009. Address to Socialist International Commission for a Sustainable World Society.
Johannesburg, South Africa: ANC Publications.
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