MK Party instructed to revoke expulsion of religious leaders

The Western Cape High Court has directed the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party to reinstate religious leaders who are members of the All African Alliance Movement (AAAM).

The organisation of church leaders endorsed the Jacob Zuma-led party ahead of the 29 May elections where the MK Party emerged as the third-biggest political party in South Africa and secured 58 seats in the National Assembly.

CHURCH LEADERS WIN CASE AGAINST MK PARTY

AAAM leader Bishop Sophonia Tsekedi, topped the MK Party’s Parliament candidate list but was not appointed when the party won 58 seats.

Another candidate Khethiso Tebe who was number seven of the candidate list was also sidelined.

On Thursday, 5 December, the Western Cape High Court said the decision of the MK Party, to expel the applicants from the party and remove their names from the list of candidates published in the Government Gazette to serve as representatives in the National Assembly and provincial legislature, as indicated in the schedule, is reviewed and set aside, TimesLIVE reported.

In essence, the removed leaders must be reinstated and those put in their place must be removed. 

ZUMA-LED PARTY TO CHALLENGE COURT RULING

Meanwhile, UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says it will be appealing the Mpumalanga Hight Court’s decision to reinstate Mary Phadi as convenor in the province.

Phadi was fired for alleged mismanagement of funds and hatching an assassination plot against her rival in the party. However, the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela ruled in her favour.

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the party was never served with legal papers and thus filed no opposing affidavit nor made representations, therefore it is their view that what transpired is a gross miscarriage of justice.

Ndhlela said after retrieving the legal papers and consulting with our legal team, they have come to the decision that they will be appealing the decision of the Mpumalanga High Court.