Johnathan Paoli
Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party founder and expelled president Jabulani Khumalo has officially requested the Electoral Commission (IEC) to remove former President Jacob Zuma from the list of candidates running for a seat in Parliament.
In a letter dated 5 May but released on Tuesday morning, Khumalo said while he agreed to Zuma being the face of the party, he had never agreed to Zuma being president of MK.
Khumalo said he had formed the party in September last year, and that he had approached the former President for political advice and guidance. And that he had received the idea of the name and the date of the party’s launch from Zuma, and that he had helped raise funds for the party’s registration.
However, Khumalo said that it was always understood that Zuma was not a member of MK, and that in light of his declaration for supporting the new party, he stated that he would remain a member of the ANC.
Furthermore, Khumalo has alleged that Zuma had him removed outside of the interim executive committee and that the correct procedure was not followed.
He said that a fraudulent letter had been drafted to the IEC in order to notify the commission that Khumalo would no longer be on the list of candidates.
“Mr Zuma’s conduct has brought the MKP into disrepute and he has acted contrary to the terms of the constitution of the party. He has purported to remove me as a party leader without following any procedures,” Khumalo said.
Khumalo said he has sent a letter to the IEC and that the interim executive committee was currently taking steps to address the conduct of Zuma through the structures of the party.
The MK party seemed to be in turmoil considering that the party announced the expulsion of Khumalo and four other members last week, following allegations of misconduct, inappropriate ties to the ANC, and creating parallel structures.
In addition, despite Khumalo’s claims, the IEC Deputy CEO Masego Sheburi confirmed last month that Zuma was the official party leader.
“We can confirm that the face of the party on the ballot paper for the Umkhonto weSizwe party will be that of Mr Jacob Zuma because the party has given us notice that it has changed its leadership structure,” Sheburi said.
The IEC is yet to comment and reply to the application for removal.
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