Former president Jacob Zuma is leader of uMkhonto weSizwe Party. | Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — Jacob Zuma is to address party supporters in Johannesburg on Thursday, amid internal wrangling, including the legal fight waged by the 10 party members who were sacked as members of Parliament (MPs) recently.
“Zuma will address the nation at a pivotal media briefing regarding the current political situation and the ongoing developments in South Africa,” read a statement released by the party on Wednesday.
It added: “The president and the leadership of the party will be covering broad strategic organisational issues that are vital to the national discourse and the future trajectory of the party in the South African political landscape.”
The legal bid by 10 of the 18 axed MPs is now a matter before the Western Cape High Court. The matter was expected to be heard on Wednesday.
Thami Khuzwayo, former leader of the student command of the party, said their removal from Parliament was “untoward”.
“This is wrong. We worked very hard during the elections to ensure that the party won votes. But now we are treated badly by the same organisation. We will fight until the bitter end,” he told Daily News.
He added: “Yes, I did not join the party for positions. But it is wrong to just remove people from positions without valid reasons.”
Zuma was expected to speak about the looming legal showdown between the party and aggrieved members when he addresses the media on Thursday.
Zuma was also expected to speak about the arrival of Floyd Shivambu, the now former president of the EFF to the MKP.
Another MKP member, Isaac Menyatso, said: “The party is humiliating us in broad daylight. We will fight our removal from Parliament, because it is not correct for the leader (Zuma) to just dismiss us without giving us reasons.”
In court, the removed members want the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, cited as the second respondent to halt the swearing-in of MKP members until the matter is heard in court.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the party’s spokesperson, warned that people who did not toe the party line would be ejected from the party.
“Those people who are taking us to court knew that they were in Parliament at the mercy of the party. I don’t understand why they are taking us to court. But we are drawing the line as the party, and saying that the people who take us to court must be dealt with and have fired themselves from the organisation,” said Ndhlela.
Isaac Menyatso, Mpho Motshegoe, Augustin Madala Qwetha, Grace Mgwebi, Ntombenhle Mkhize, Matholeni Masilela, Bongani Mfiki, Senzo Dlamini and Agnes Mokgotsi were part of the legal bid to be reinstated in Parliament.
The MKP – which contested the elections for the first time in May – has 58 seats in the National Assembly, with 400 members. And in KwaZulu-Natal, the party raked in 37 seats in the 80-member provincial legislature.
Among those expelled from the MKP was founding leader, Jabulani Khumalo.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News