Zuma alone rules MK party

Ousted party members lose bid to remain in National Assembly.

- Ciaran Ryan

Papers filed in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town make it clear that uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) is a one-man show led by Jacob Zuma. This is admitt ed by Zuma in his replying affidavit to a review application brought by 10 MPs who have been removed from the National Assembly and the party.

The 10 MPs lost their case against the party yesterday and are now under threat of eviction from their parliamentary homes in Cape Town. Their legal team is considering other possible legal options.

The applicants are Thamsanqa Khuzwayo, Isaac Menyatso, Citron Motshegoe, Augustina Qwetha, Nomado Mgwebi, Ntombenhle Mkhize, Sydwell Masilela, France Mfiki, Senzo Dlamini and Agnes Mogotsi.

Zuma’s response to the application contains some astonishing admissions: that the party was his concept and brainchild – which is disputed – and that party governance was to take place in three phases. The party was now in its second phase of evolution where an “interim leadership core” is responsible for running the party.

This gives Zuma “the powers to deploy all members of the MK party” at his “sole discretion until the holding of the elective conference at which democratically elected structures will be put in place”.