MK Party leader Jacob Zuma and his daughter Duduzile. Image: @themankosi
IEC distances itself from MK Party leadership squabbles
The IEC has weighed in on expelled MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo’s letter regarding the removal of Jacob Zuma as the face of the party.
MK Party leader Jacob Zuma and his daughter Duduzile. Image: @themankosi
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it does not involve itself in the internal affairs of political parties after uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party founder Jabulani Khumalo called for the removal of Jacob Zuma on the ballot paper.
Khumalo, who founded and registered the MK Party in 2023, wrote to the Electoral Commission saying Zuma is not the legitimate leader of the political party.
IEC WEIGHS IN ON EXPELLED MK PARTY FOUNDER’S LETTER
On Tuesday, the commission reiterated that it does not involve itself in the internal affairs of political parties.
“Additionally, the Commission only acts on instruction of the registered leader of the party. In the present case, Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of the MK Party. This has been so since 10 April 1994,” the IEC said.
EXPELLED LEADER WANTS ZUMA’S FACE TO BE REMOVED
In a letter dated 5 May, Jabulani Khumalo, who was expelled in April, requested that the Electoral Commission remove Zuma as the “face” of MK Party.
Khumalo also detailed how the name uMkhonto weSizwe came about.
The expelled leader said Zuma suggested that the party be aligned with the ruling party (ANC) because the brand is entrenched within the public and population.
“In fact, Zuma proposed the name uMkhonto weSizwe. I was responsible for the registration of MKP with the Electoral Commission, and Zuma also assisted with raising funds for the registration,” he said.
In addition, Khumalo said there had been rumours that the former ANC president wanted to hijack MKP; however, he rejected them because he thought his relationship with Zuma was solid.
He said before his expulsion, he was called into a meeting with several individuals who are not on the national executive committee but have been active within the party.
“Zuma announced that I had been removed as the president of the party, and he would henceforth be the president of the party. During that meeting, a fraudulent letter was prepared for transmission to the IEC announcing that I would no longer be on the list of candidates and that Zuma would be the face and the president of the MKP.
“I sent a letter to the Electoral Commission in which I confirmed that Zuma would be the face of the party. At no stage did I confirm that Zuma would be the president of the party.
“I request urgently that the Electoral Commission should remove Zuma’s name as the ‘face’ of MK Party. He should also be immediately removed as the president of the MK Party. He occupies these positions through fraudulent manoeuvres,” Khumalo said.
