By Celani Sikhakhane
- Members of the uMkhonto Wesizwe party clashed outside the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature over the submission of its members’ list for swearing-in on Friday. Fists were soon flying as the disagreement turned physical.
- Nhlanhla Ngidi, removed as the MK provincial convener, attempted to submit his list, leading to a confrontation with another group claiming their list was compiled by Jacob Zuma.
Members of the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party clashed outside the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in Pietermaritzburg over the submission of its list of members to be sworn in on Friday.
The clash happened at around noon when a former director-general of the KZN government, Nhlanhla Ngidi, who was removed in April as the MK provincial convener, clashed with a group of other MK leaders who presented their own list, claiming it was compiled by party leader Jacob Zuma.
Ngidi attempted to submit his list to the secretary of the legislature, Nerusha Naidoo, at the same time that the other group tried to submit their list.
Ngidi and the other group fought while members of other political parties looked on.
The MK group questioned Ngidi’s presence, claiming he had no authority to represent the MK at any level. Ngidi countered that he was the party’s legitimate representative with the authority to submit the list.
Scrolla.Africa sources revealed that Naidoo told the incoming legislature members she also had to consult with the legislature’s legal unit to check if it was permissible to amend the list before the end of the stipulated period of 12 months.
It is understood that Naidoo clarified that no one would be allowed to enter the chambers on Friday unless they were registered on the gazette list submitted to KZN Acting Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati.
Former National Democratic Convention president Dr Ziba Jiyane, who joined the MK party earlier this year, claimed he was unaware he was joining an organisation led by former president Zuma and his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.
Jiyane was angry over allegations that he was left off the MK’s list to Parliament.
KZN Legislature spokesperson Nomusa Phungula clarified the matter and said MK provincial Convener Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa said the admission of MK members to the Legislature must be halted until the matter is resolved.
She said that requests came after another group who claim to be leaders of MK submitted their own list.
“Today we had a dry run process where we rehearsed the new members who would be sworn in tomorrow. Then the MK submitted two lists.
“As the Legislature we communicated with the leaders of political parties and we did with the MK. Then Dr Mbanjwa requested that the on-boarding of the list must be halted until further notice.
“We can assure you that the secretary of the Legislature never chased out anyone,” said Phungula.
She said the KZN Legislature has about 29 returning members out of 80 members of the House.
Scrolla.Africa learned that some of the members of the party who were fighting at the KZN Legislature disagreed over the instruction of the party which called on some to resign from the list.
There was shouting and heckling as some members refused to heed the instruction that they should resign.
Others accepted the instruction because they were told they were added to a list of candidates for the National Assembly.
MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela confirmed in a media statement that they will have their 37 members sworn in at the KZN Legislature tomorrow (Friday 14 June).
Pictured above: Expelled MK Party Convener Nhlanhla Ngidi chased away from the KZN Legislature along with other factions after submitting parallel lists earlier today.
Source: X
