MK party founder suspends Jacob Zuma, asks IEC to remove him from its list

• Published date: 07 May 2024
• Publication title: Mail & Guardian: Web Edition Articles (Johannesburg, South Africa)

The move by Khumalo comes despite his expulsion from the party by Zuma late last month for "ill-discipline" — and takes place days before the constitutional court will hear an appeal by the IEC against an electoral court ruling allowing Zuma to be on the ballot

The latest drama involving the newest breakaway party from the ANC kicked off on Sunday, when Khumalo — referring to himself as party president — wrote to Zuma and told him that he was being placed on suspension.

In the letter, Khumalo said Zuma had committed "several acts of misconduct in relation to the activities of the MKP".

"These have brought the party into disrepute and caused confusion within the broader public and membership of the MKP," Khumalo said. "Specifically, you have purported to suspend me as the president of the party without following the procedures prescribed by the constitution of the party."

Khumalo said Zuma's precautionary suspension would be followed by disciplinary proceedings being brought against him by the party.

The IEC released a statement on Tuesday afternoon confirming that it had received the letter by the MK party founder. It however said that it does not involve itself in political party affairs.

"Addditionally the commission only acts on instruction of the registered leader of the party. In the present case, Mr Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of the MK party," the commission said.

Khumalo and several other MK party members were expelled at the end of April, with party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela accusing him of using its funds to buy expensive new vehicles.

Ndhlela also accused Khumalo of working to undermine the MK party — which has been rocked by allegations of fraud in the process of collecting signatures to have it placed on the ballot — from within on the ANC's behalf.

The episode is reminiscent of the spat in the ANC during which its then secretary general, Ace Magashule, suspended president Cyril Ramaphosa for suspending him.

Magashule was ultimately expelled from the party.

In his letter to the IEC, Khumalo requested the "immediate removal" of Zuma "as the face of the MKP and president of MKP".

He accused Zuma of hijacking the party and of fraudulently having him removed from the party's electoral list.

Khumalo also spilled the beans on how the MK party was formed and what role the former head of state played in this process.

Khumalo said he had...