Cape Town — uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party founder, Jabulani Khumalo, has asked the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to remove Jacob Zuma as the face of the party.
Khumalo wrote a letter to the IEC and called for the commission to remove Zuma as the face and president of MK as he occupies both positions fraudulently.
“I write to you in my capacity as the president of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK). This is to request the immediate removal of Mr Zuma’s name as the face of MK and president of MK,” Khumalo said.
BREAKING NEWS: Jabulani Khumalo, the founder of the MK Party, has written to former President Jacob Zuma and placed him on precautionary suspension. Khumalo has also written to the IEC, asking it to remove Zuma from the party’s parliamentary list and as party leader.… pic.twitter.com/shHYGnWVch
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) May 7, 2024
Khumalo listed in detail that he started the party in September 2023, and that he consulted Zuma for political advice and guidance. The former president told Khumalo that the party name should be linked to the ANC and he also assisted Khumalo with raising funds to register the party.
Zuma suggested that the party be launched on 16 December 2023, the same date that the real Mkhonto Wesizwe was launched. Khumalo said that, at all times, Zuma intended to remain a member of the ANC, while still campaigning for the MK party.
Khumalo, who was expelled from the party last week, revealed that in April 2024, he was called into a meeting that called for his removal from the party, and that he would subsequently be named president.
“These have brought the party into disrepute, and caused confusion within the broader public and the membership of the MKP. Specifically, you have purported to suspend me as the president of the Party without following the procedures prescribed by the constitution of the party” he said.
“In these circumstances I request urgently that the Electoral Commission should remove Mr. Zuma’s name as the ‘face’ of MKP,” wrote Khumalo in the letter to the IEC. He should also be immediately removed as the president of the MKP. He occupies both positions through fraudulent and illegal manoeuvres.” he added.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
