Jabulani Khumalo, the expelled leader of the Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party, has accused the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, of forging a letter to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that altered the party’s leadership.
This dispute has now escalated to the electoral court, where Khumalo is seeking to have his expulsion declared invalid and unlawful.
Khumalo’s lawyer, Advocate Mfesane Ka-Siboto, presented evidence suggesting that the letter allegedly authored by Zuma-Sambudla was fraudulent.
Ka-Siboto argued that the IEC should have verified the email correspondence, especially since Khumalo had explicitly stated that he did not wish to change the party leader. He pointed out distinguishable differences in the signatures on the letter, raising reasonable suspicion of forgery.
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Advocate Ka-Siboto emphasized that Zuma-Sambudla lacked the authority to remove Khumalo as the party leader.
[WATCH] Jabulani Khumalo’s lawyer tells the Electoral Court that former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla forged the letter which was submitted to the IEC as his resignation.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/C8MziU0Hdq
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 3, 2024
According to Regulation 9 concerning the registration of political parties, any change in party particulars must be notified in writing within 30 days by the registered contact person or the party leader. The evidence presented indicated that the letter’s signatures were inconsistent, casting doubt on its authenticity.
Zuma’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, countered the forgery claims by stating that Khumalo had written two letters to the IEC, which the commission confirmed receiving.
Mpofu argued that Khumalo’s application should be dismissed as it is flawed and not a legitimate basis for the court proceedings. He maintained that the IEC acted within its scope when it recorded Zuma as the president of the new political organization.
The court has reserved its judgment on the matter, leaving the future leadership of the MK party in uncertainty. Khumalo’s expulsion and the subsequent legal battle highlight the complexities and challenges within political party leadership and electoral regulations in South Africa.
