The South African Electoral Commission has declined a request to remove former President Jacob Zuma as the leader of the newly formed Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
The request to remove Mr Zuma was initiated by MK founder Jabulani Khumalo, who sent a letter to the commission, urging it to remove Mr Zuma as the party’s face and from its list of potential members of parliament.
Mr Khumalo, who was recently expelled from the party, said Mr Zuma fraudulently occupies the position as leader of the new party.
Mr Khumalo, not stopping at the letter, also placed Mr Zuma on precautionary suspension for what he deemed as ‘several acts of misconduct’.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said its mandate does not include interfering with political parties’ internal affairs. It affirmed that Mr Zuma remained a registered leader of the MK party.
The poll agency said, “The commission only acts on the instruction of the registered leader of the party.” Mr Zuma has been MK party leader since last month.
The former president has defeated several attempts to prevent him or his new party from contesting the general election on 29 May.