Expelled uMkhonto weSizwe Party co-founder Jabulani Khumalo has written to the IEC demanding the removal of former President Jacob Zuma from the ballot, less than three weeks before the general elections. Khumalo who was expelled by the party a few weeks ago further demanded that the Independent Electoral Commission deregister the party.

ZUMA WAS MEANT TO HELP WITH CAMPAIGNING ONLY

In the letter to the IEC, Khumalo said Zuma suggested that the party and his role be announced on 16 December, the anniversary of the formation of the ANC's disbanded military wing, uMkhonto weSizwe. Khumalo also revealed that he had helped Zuma raise more than R700 000 to register the party and that the former president is the one who suggested the name. "I was responsible for the registration of MKP with the Electoral Commission. At all times it was understood that Mr Zuma is not a member of MKP but would assist it in the campaign. When he announced his decision to vote and campaign for MKP on 16 December 2023, he made it clear that he would remain a member of the ANC," Khumalo said.

ZUMA IS MK PARTY LEADER

IEC Chief Communications Manager,Kate Bapela, confirmed receiving the letter from Khumalo. "The Electoral Commission confirms that it has received communication from Mr Jabulani Khumalo on behalf of the MK Party. The letter has also been circulated extensively on social media platforms. In that letter Mr Khumalo demands that the Electoral Commission should remove Mr Zuma as the "face of MKP and as the president of the MKP,' Bapela said. She added that 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 MK Party. This has been so since 10 April 2024," she said.

SUSPENDING ZUMA

Khumalo, who is clearly not going down without a fight, has also 'suspended' Zuma from the party. In a letter dated 5 May 2024, to Zuma, he said that he was suspending the former president from the party as he has caused too much damage to the organisation. "You have purported to suspend me as the president of the party without following the procedures prescribed by the constitution of the party. You are hereby placed on precautionary suspension, pending disciplinary proceedings being brought against you in terms of the constitution of the MKP," reads the letter. The letter continues, "In these circumstances, you are hereby placed on precautionary suspension, pending disciplinary proceedings being brought against you in terms of the constitution of the MKP," Attempts to get comment from MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela proved fruitless as his phone rang unanswered.