Johnathan Paoli
THE founder and expelled leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, Jabulani Khumalo, has launched an urgent application in the Electoral court on Tuesday.
This follows his failed attempt at the Electoral Commission (IEC) earlier in the month, to declare invalid the commission’s registration of former president Jacob Zuma as the leader of the party.
The IEC refused his application and said that it did not involve itself in the internal affairs of political parties.
The commission said that it only responded on instruction from the registered leader of the party and that Zuma was registered as the leader from 10 April this year.
Khumalo founded the MK Party in December last year, but was ousted from the party in April alongside Ray Khumalo, Bheki Manzini, Lebo Moepeng and Rochelle Davidson
According to party leadership, the expulsion came after it was revealed that external forces were trying to destabilize the party.
In a letter dated 5 May Khumalo said that while he agreed to Zuma being the face of the party, he had never agreed to Zuma being president of MK.
Khumalo 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.
However, Khumalo has been noticeably absent from party events, including the party’s launch of the “People’s Manifesto” on Saturday.
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