Expelled MK Party members Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and Nhlamulo Ndhlela have taken their fight against the party to court, challenging the decision to expel them from the organisation. In court papers filed at the South Gauteng High Court, the two are demanding reinstatement, saying their expulsions were unfair and unlawful. Ndhlela, who is viewed as Zuma-Sambudla's close ally, is also seeking an order reinstating him as an MK Party MP.
The MK Party expelled Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela in June, accusing them of sowing divisions within the organisation. At the time of their expulsion, MK Party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo said the pair's conduct, including their social media activity and behaviour at party events, had caused confusion and contributed to divisions within the organisation. The national officials resolved that Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela had acted in a manner fundamentally inconsistent with the values, discipline, constitutional principles, and organisational interests of the MK Party.
However, Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela dispute the basis of their expulsion, alleging that people close to MK Party leader and former president Jacob Zuma influenced the decision to remove them. Their court action comes less than two weeks after another legal setback for the MK Party when the Western Cape High Court ordered the reinstatement of two of its former MPs, Pumlani Kubukeli and Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala.
The court found that the process followed in expelling Kubukeli and Litchfield-Tshabalala from the party and Parliament had not complied with the requirements of natural justice. This ruling may set a precedent for Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela's case. The MK Party constitution accords Zuma the powers to expel party members, but there are views within the organisation that members should be given a fair hearing before they are expelled.
Some MK Party members believe that given Zuma's leadership role in the party, it is unwise for organisation members to question his decisions. Addressing party supporters in Howick's Mpophomeni township, MK Party first deputy president Duduzane Zuma, who is also Zuma's son, spoke against questioning Zuma's decisions. He emphasised the importance of implementing Zuma's directives without challenge.
Since the MK Party's formation in 2023, several high-profile members have either been expelled or pushed out of the organisation. Individuals who have fallen out with the MK Party since its emergence include Jabulani Khumalo, who registered the party with the Electoral Commission of South Africa, former secretary general Floyd Shivambu, former National Assembly caucus chief whip Colleen Makhubele, and former KwaZulu-Natal convenor Nhlanhla Ngidi.
The MK Party's struggles with internal conflicts and expulsions raise questions about the party's stability and future prospects. As the court considers Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela's case, the party's leadership and members will be watching closely. The outcome may have significant implications for the party's internal dynamics and its ability to present a united front in the face of opposition.
Key points
- Expelled MK Party members take fight to court
- MK Party's internal conflicts and expulsions raise questions about stability and future prospects
- Court ruling may set precedent for Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela's case
