Internal Turmoil in uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party as Founder and Zuma Face Off

The founder of the newly launched uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, Jabulani Khumalo, has made a plea to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) to remove former president Jacob Zuma as the public face of the party and from its potential MPs list. In a letter dated May 5, Khumalo accused Zuma of fraudulently seizing these positions.

Zuma currently holds the top spot on the MK party’s National Assembly candidate list, but Khumalo, recently expelled from the party by Zuma, is challenging this move. As per records, internal strife within political parties like the Congress of the People and Mamphela Ramphele’s short-lived AgangSA has previously led to their collapse post their debut elections, a pattern that seems to be resurfacing in the MK Party.

Khumalo’s letter to the IEC suggested that Zuma’s actions have tarnished the MKP’s image and violated the party’s constitution. Additionally, Khumalo placed Zuma on precautionary suspension for alleged misconduct, setting the stage for potential disciplinary actions against Zuma. The unfolding drama within the MK party is being closely monitored by political analysts and the public awaiting the party’s fate in the upcoming election.

On April 23, Khumalo recounted being ousted as the party president during a meeting orchestrated by Zuma, where falsified letters were used to appoint Zuma as the new head of the party. Khumalo, in response, informed the IEC of this coercion and vowed to rectify the situation internally. The power struggle between Khumalo and Zuma has underscored the factional battle within the MKP, raising questions about the party’s stability and future prospects amidst the electoral turmoil.