Former president Jacob Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). | Supplied
Durban — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has declared war against its members who dragged the party to court after they were dismissed from the National Assembly.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the party’s spokesperson and MP, told the Daily News that members who took the party to court have “inadvertently” fired themselves 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 and saying that the people who take us to court must be dealt with and have fired themselves from the organisation,” said Ndhlela.
This is after 10 of the 18 filed court papers on Monday, legally challenging their unceremonious removal from the National Assembly.
Among them was Thami Khuzwayo, who was a leader of the student command of the party.
The papers were filed in the Western Cape High Court on Monday morning.
MKP members Isaac Menyatso, Mpho Motshegoe, Augustin Madala Qwetha, Grace Mgwebi, Ntombenhle Mkhize, Matholeni Masilela, Bongani Mfiki, Senzo Dlamini and Agnes Mogotsi were part of the legal bid to be reinstated in Parliament.
Ndhlela said the party would not be derailed by any members or “external elements” who planned to destabilise the party that has 58 seats in the National Assembly and 37 seats in the KZN provincial legislature.
Issuing a stern warning, he said the members who took the party to court would suffer the same fate as the founding leader, Jabulani Khumalo, who was expelled from the party and lost his multiple court bids to return.
“Essentially, these guys are doing the same thing that Jabulani Khulamo did and lost. They will suffer the same consequences. The MK Party belongs to the people, and these guys are trying to hijack it and make it their own,” said Ndhlela.
Buoyed by the arrival of Floyd Shivambu, the former deputy president of the EFF, led by Julius Malema, the MKP is now steaming up its election campaign on the road ahead to the 2026 local government election.
This is not the first time Khuzwayo was mired in an internal MKP battle.
He once accused Zuma’s loyal backer, Bonginkosi Khanyile, of allegedly being used by former party leader Khumalo of plotting to oust Zuma.
Speculation has been growing that the party would sack some of its 37 members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature (MPLs).
“It’s bad. We can’t even focus on the job at hand because we don’t know whether we are safe or we will suffer the same fate as our comrades in the National Assembly,” said an MKP MPL, who spoke strictly on condition of anonymity last week.
The party has claimed that some of its members were ANC spies bent on sowing divisions in the party.
Some even went to Zuma’s house in Nkandla, north of KZN, to voice their concerns.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News