Johnathan Paoli
THE Electoral Court has dismissed with costs the application by founder and former leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, Jabulani Khumalo, challenging former President Jacob Zuma’s leadership of the party.
The court made its ruling on Wednesday, and not only dismissed the application, but punitively sanctioned Khumalo for wasting the court’s time.
In dismissing the case, the court said “the application constitutes an abuse of this court’s process and a waste of its judicial economy and the opposing respondents’ resources.”
Khumalo filed an application seeking the court’s assistance in removing Zuma as the leader of the party, claiming the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) acted outside the authority provided by the Electoral Commission Act in recognising Zuma as party leader.
In addition, Khumalo’s legal team accused Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla of sending the commission a letter containing an allegedly forged signature of Khumalo, conceding his leadership to Zuma.
In his submission to the IEC, Khumalo said he formed the MK party in 2023 but had been removed as president.
Khumalo claimed he registered the party with the IEC on 7 September 2023, and simply consulted for political advice and guidance with Zuma.
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