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In the present case, Mr Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of MK Party. This has been so since 10 April 2024

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Sizwe sama Yende

The IEC has confirmed receiving communication from expelled MK Party (MKP) leader, Jabulani Khumalo, to remove former president Jacob Zuma as the face of the fledgling party.

Khumalo was fired on April 26 alongside Ray Khumalo, Bheki Manzini, Lebo Moepeng and Rochelle Davidson. The party said in a statement that they were rogue and justified its action as getting rid of “external forces destabilising” the party.

However, it seems that Zuma is winning this battle, and Khumalo’s attempt is doomed to fail. The IEC said in a statement that it only acted on the instruction of the registered leader of the party.

“In the present case, Mr Jacob Zuma is the registered leader of MK Party. This has been so since 10 April 2024,” the IEC said. This effectively means that it is Zuma who will remove Zuma as the face of the party, and Khumalo’s action was futile.

The commission added that it did not involve itself in internal affairs of political parties.

Khumalo tendered his resignation to the IEC, as party leader, on April 9. He wrote: “I hereby tender my resignation as Party Leader and request to be replaced by President Jacob Zuma. Also, I would like to take the liberty of informing you that a motion which stems from a National Leadership Core (NLC) meeting, where a decision was taken and concluded that President Jacob Zuma, and that a letter be written to the IEC for the final and only inclusion of President Jacob Zuma's face be on the ballot paper as the recognised face and leader of the M K Party for the 29" May 2024 National Election.”

“Based on the above, we therefore request that the face of
President Jacob Zuma be on the final printed ballot paper next to the uMkhonto wesizwe logo/brand.”

Khumalo claimed in his request for Zuma’s removal that his letter to the IEC confirmed Zuma as the “face” of the party, not the president.

“Mr Zuma's conduct has brought 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. Furthermore, it has been widely discussed within MKP that after elections, certain individuals, including an active member and leader of an opposition party would take over as president of MKP. Mr Zuma's daughter, Ms Duduzile Zuma, has also persistently and publicly disgraced my name,” he said.

However, Khumalo himself had publicly clarified that Zuma was the president and he was a commander under him.

The dispute between Zuma and Khumalo was also exacerbated by allegations that the latter declined to reveal who bought him a R3million vehicle.  

A voice note that circulated on social media alleged that Khumalo and other leaders received money from a former minister from KwaZulu-Natal to sustain their lifestyles.