South African Court has dismissed Jabulani Khumalo’s bid to be reinstated as the leader of the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party, cementing former president Jacob Zuma’s control ahead of crucial national elections on May 29th.
On Wednesday, the Electoral Court handed down a judgment dismissing Khumalo’s application to invalidate the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) recognition of Zuma as the party’s president.
The court’s ruling was unequivocal in rejecting Khumalo’s case. As stated in the judgment, “the court dismissed this, saying the applicant perjured himself, the application is frivolous, lacks merit and constitutes an abuse of the court’s processes.”
Khumalo, who founded the MK party, had alleged that Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla forged his signature on documents submitted to the IEC installing her father as the new leader. However, the court dismissed these claims as unfounded.
The outcome represents a major setback for the former MK leader in his bitter feud with Zuma over control of the political movement. Khumalo had been expelled from the party before urgently petitioning the Electoral Court last month in a bid to have Zuma’s leadership invalidated.
With the court challenge failing, Zuma’s grip over the MK party appears secure heading into the high-stakes elections. Despite facing corruption allegations, the 80-year-old former president has managed to position the upstart party as a potential major force.
The impact of Wednesday’s ruling could prove pivotal during the final electoral homestretch. It eliminates doubts over the MK party’s legitimate leadership just weeks before South Africans head to the polls.
