Former President Jacob Zuma. (Photo credit: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)
Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party founder Jabulani Khumalo has placed Jacob Zuma on preventive suspension and is calling on the South African Electoral Commission (IEC) to remove the former president from its parliamentary rolls. .
Mr Khumalo's move comes despite Zuma expelling him from the party late last month for “discipline” and in response to an Electoral Tribunal ruling that allowed him to vote. The ruling comes days before the Constitutional Court hears the IEC's appeal. .
The latest drama surrounding the party's latest defection from the ANC began on Sunday, when Mr Khumalo – who describes himself as the party's president – wrote to Mr Zuma telling him he was being suspended.
In his letter, Mr Khumalo said Mr Zuma had committed “several illegal acts in connection with the activities of the MKP”.
“These have brought the party into disrepute and caused confusion among the wider public and MKP membership,” Khumalo said. “Specifically, they are suspending me as party leader without following the procedures set out in the party constitution.”
Mr Khumalo said the party would bring disciplinary proceedings against Mr Zuma following his preventive suspension.
Khumalo and several other MK members were expelled at the end of April, with party spokesperson Nhlamulo Nderela accusing him of using party funds to buy expensive new cars.
Mr Nderela also accused Mr Khumalo of working from within to undermine the MK party, which is reeling from allegations of fraud in the process of gathering signatures to appear on the ballot paper on behalf of the ANC.
The episode is reminiscent of the infighting within the ANC over then-secretary-general Ace Magashule's decision to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mr Magashule was eventually expelled from the party.
In a letter to the IEC, Khumalo called for the “immediate removal” of Zuma “as the face of the MKP and chairman of the MKP.”
He accused Mr Zuma of hijacking the party and fraudulently removing him from the party's electoral roll.
Mr Khumalo also revealed how the MK party was formed and what role former heads of state played in this process.
Mr Khumalo said he had registered the party with Mr Zuma's “political advice and guidance”, adding that the former president had given him the name “ANC and He said he was told that he should agree.
Mr Zuma also proposed announcing his role in the party on December 16, the anniversary of the formation of the ANC's military wing, Umkhonto Wesizwe, and offered R700,000 to register. I helped collect the above.
“In fact, the name uMkhonto weSizwe was suggested by Mr Zuma. I was responsible for the registration of MKP with the Electoral Commission,” Mr Khumalo said. “Although Mr Zuma is not a member of the MKP, it was always understood that he would support the MKP in the election campaign.”
“When he announced his decision to vote and campaign for the MKP on December 16, 2023, he made it clear that he would remain a member of the ANC,” Mr Khumalo said.
Mr Khumalo said he denied rumors that Mr Zuma “intended to take over the party” as he believed his relationship with the former head of state was “strong”.
However, on April 23, he was summoned to a meeting with Zuma and other members of the MK party who were not part of the Interim Executive.
“Mr Zuma has announced that I have been removed as party president and that he will now be president,” Mr Khumalo said.
He said the council had prepared a “fraudulent” letter to the IEC stating that Zuma would now be removed from the list and that he was now president and the public face of the party. Ta.
Khumalo said Zuma should be removed from the MK party list on May 29 because he had brought the party into disrepute and violated the constitution by purporting to dismiss him without formalities.
Mr Khumalo also claimed that another opposition leader was preparing to take over the MK party leadership after the election, which was one of the reasons Mr Zuma's daughter Duduzile had “smeared my name publicly”. did.
Ndlela did not respond to calls or messages from the government. email and guardian At the time of writing.
