The African National Congress (ANC) recently made a court application to deregister the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The application was dismissed by Judge Lebogang Modiba, who stated that the ANC had no basis for their claims. The court found that there was nothing unlawful about the registration of the MK party by the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer.
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The ANC’s Failed Attempts to Challenge the Registration of the MK Party
The ANC had previously failed on two occasions to challenge the registration of the MK party in the past year.
This fact was highlighted by the court, further weakening the ANC’s case. The future of the MK party was uncertain as the ANC sought to challenge its registration in the electoral court. Judge Modiba emphasized that this was a unanimous decision by the court.
The ANC’s Responsibility for the Failure of their Application
The court made it clear that if the ANC’s relief was granted, it would be too late to deregister the MK party. The ANC had two opportunities to oppose the registration of the MK party but failed to do so.
Judge Modiba placed the blame squarely on the ANC, stating that they had brought the application beyond the prescribed period and had failed to show good cause for their delay. The court deemed the ANC’s explanation for the delay as irrational and irrelevant.
The ANC’s Allegations Against the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer
The ANC’s case rested on their claim that the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi, had acted unlawfully when registering the MK party.
This matter was heard in court in Bloemfontein, and the judgment is expected to be delivered in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday. The ANC argued that the MK party should not have been registered by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) due to flaws in the party’s application.
Opposing Views on the Registration of the MK Party
While the ANC believed that the registration of the MK party was improper, both the IEC and the MK party maintained that everything was conducted above board.
They argued that the application had followed the necessary procedures and should be allowed to proceed. The MK party also pointed out that the ANC had not opposed their registration until former President Jacob Zuma announced his intention to join the party.
Controversy Surrounding Former President Jacob Zuma’s Involvement
Former President Jacob Zuma’s decision to align himself with the MK party added another layer of controversy to the situation. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula accused Zuma of stealing the ANC’s property, as the MK party was originally formed as the ANC’s military wing in 1961. Zuma’s endorsement of the MK party led to his suspension from the ANC by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
 party. The court found no basis for the ANC's claims and dismissed their application. Learn more about the controversy surrounding former President Jacob Zuma's involvement and the future of the MK party. Stay updated with the latest political news.){kind=link}