By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
Former president Jacob Zuma may appear to be firmly in control of the Umkhonto Wesizwe party but the battle for control of the party is far from over.
The Independent Electoral Commission has rejected an application by MK founder Jabulani Khumalo to remove Zuma from the IEC list of candidates contesting the 29 May elections.
“The commission reiterates its stance that it does not involve itself in internal affairs of political parties.
“Additionally, the commission only acts on instruction of the registered leader of the party.
“In the present case, Mr Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of the MK party. This has been so since 10 April 2024,” said the IEC.
But this is not the end for Khumalo, who is fighting his expulsion, which occurred without a formal disciplinary hearing.
Last month, five MK party members – Ray Khumalo, Bheki Manzini, Lebo Moepeng, Rochelle Davidson and Khumalo – were expelled by the Zuma faction for “destabilising” the party.
Khumalo, who insists he is still president of MK and leads its interim national executive committee, now relies on the backing of this committee to reject his expulsion by Zuma.
“The MK party has an interim executive committee, of which I am the president. Mr Zuma is not a member of the executive committee.
“There had been a rumour that Mr Zuma intended to hijack the party, but I rejected these rumours because I understood that the relationship with Mr Zuma is solid,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo maintains his expulsion was illegal because there were no members of the MK interim executive in the meeting that decided to expel him.
“Mr Zuma announced that I have been removed as president of the party, and he would henceforth be the president.”
For Khumalo, the battle for control of the MK party is not over as he still believes that he is the president of the party, while Zuma is the party’s presidential candidate for the 29 May elections.
Pictured above: Jabulani Khumalo and Jacob Zuma.
Source: X
