Parliament confirms removal of Jabulani Khumalo's name from MK MP list
Parliament has confirmed the MK’s embattled founder Jabulani Khumalo has been removed from the list of candidates who will represent the party in the legislature.
Jabulani Khumalo refuted claims by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that it received a letter from the MK Party that stated it changed its leader from him to former President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - As the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party’s internal dramas continue to play out in the run-up to parliament’s first sitting on Friday, Parliament said that it is a standard procedure to act on correspondence from political parties regarding the eligibility of members to stand as political office bearers.
Parliament confirmed that the MK’s embattled founder Jabulani Khumalo has been removed from the list of candidates who will represent the party in the legislature.
In a letter to Khumalo Secretary to Parliament Xolile George said that unless Khumalo can prove wrongful removal from the party its obliged to remove him from the candidates’ list on the basis that the party says he’s been expelled through an internal process.
Khumalo has on Tuesday approached the Western Cape High Court in an urgent bid to have his name reinstated.
Parliamentary Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said, "While we understand there’s a dispute concerning Mr Khumalo, Parliament can only follow instructions from the recognised leadership of the party, as identified by the IEC pending any court outcomes regarding the dispute."
Parliament announced on Monday that it will not be booking flights for any of MK’s designated MPs after the party indicated it plans to boycott the first sitting over the outcome of the elections a matter it’s on Tuesday taken to the Constitutional Court.
"We acknowledge that there’s a dispute over the party leadership, which is a matter for the court to resolve, but as parliament, we do not involve ourselves in such disputes. Our role is to follow the established communication channels."