Johnathan Paoli
THE Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has announced its intention to initiate legal proceedings at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to challenge the results of the first sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature on Friday last week.
MK provincial head of mobilisation, Kwazi Mbanjwa said on Tuesday the party wants the high court to set aside the election of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) candidate Thami Ntuli, as Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal.
Mbanjwa said the secrecy of the election was breached when certain members showed and celebrated their votes to the gathering after casting their ballots for the Premier.
He said the party reported the incident immediately, but despite efforts by the legislature secretary, Nerusha Naidoo, the misconduct continued.
In addition, MK also requested party agents be part of the counting but the Judge President of the KZN High Court, Thoba Poyo-Dlwati, refused their request and said it was not allowed,
Mbanjwa contended that despite Poyo-Dlwati’s refusal, their request was however allowed at the National Assembly by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
He said the inability to monitor votes by all party agents remained a fundamental problem which casts doubt on the whole process.
“We do not know what was going on there. It was not done in a proper way,” Mbanjwa said.
Ntuli was elected Premier with 41 votes, followed by the MK candidate Phathisizwe Chiliza with 39 votes.
The Premier’s success resulted from a joint effort by the IFP, African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) that managed to displace an attempted coalition between MK and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The ANC’s Notembeko Boyce defeated the MK’s candidate Mervyn Dirks as Speaker of the provincial legislature, while Mmabatho Tembe from the DA was elected as Deputy Speaker.
MK has also applied to the Electoral Court seeking an order to nullify the 29 May general elections by declaring them not free and fair, and calling for new elections.
On Tuesday, Ntuli announced his cabinet during the Premier’s inauguration at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
- Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Rev Musa Keith Zondi,
- Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC Rev Thulasizwe Dominic Buthelezi,
- Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane,
- Social Development MEC Mbali Cynthia Chinga,
- Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Lukas Marthinus Meyer,
- Finance MEC Francoise Adrianus Rodgers,
- Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni Petty kaMadlopha-Mthethwa,
- Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Amstrong Duma,
- Education MEC Siphosihle Emmanuel Hlomuka,
- Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula.
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