Zuma ordered to appear before ANC's disciplinary committee: 'Expect a spectacle'

The ANC has announced that former president Jacob Zuma has been summoned to appear at a disciplinary hearing.

The hearing has been set for next Tuesday, 9 April, at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.

The ANC suspended Zuma in January after the party veteran announced he would be campaigning and voting for the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela says Zuma will be present for his hearing, reports Eyewitness News (EWN).

John Perlman gets some insight from EWN political editor Tshidi Madia.

Her first response to the news was to ask why the ANC keeps scoring own goals, Madia remarks.

"Why would you call the former president to a disciplinary hearing in the middle of campaign season... We're all focused on the story, and not for the right reasons."

"You're trying to get people to focus on your track record - at least the good aspects of your track record... You try to get us to talk about what you've got to offer, why you're asking for a renewed mandate, and then you do this?"

Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - Eyewitness News

The move also comes amid some positive developments for the ruling party, like former president Thabo Mbeki taking the decision to campaign for them.

Madia says the ANC has managed internal splintering better in the past.

"What it was able to do previously, was to focus on itself and not anyone else (think COPE, Julius Malema).

"The recent back and forth about MK... communicates a party that doesn't know what it's doing and that's possibly panicking on the back of comments that it might go under 50%."

"I've never seen an ANC this haphazard in dealing with somebody."

Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - Eyewitness News