The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party says the Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Constitutional Court have ignored evidence provided to support the party’s claims of last month’s elections being rigged.
Addressing the media in Sandton, Johannesburg, former President Jacob Zuma says, through a statement read by the party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, that they will be going back to the Electoral Court to challenge the validity of the election results.
The MK party accuses the ConCourt of relying on technicalities.
“We presented concrete evidence to the IEC, showing widespread irregularities in the voting process and the voting system, it has all fallen on deaf ears. We’ve also tried all peaceful means to address our grievances, but all in vain. We’ve even approached the highest court in the land, but it rejected our pleas without even giving us a hearing, and they’re relying on technicalities while the democracy itself is being destroyed.”
#MK Zuma: For the record, Umkhonto Wesizwe is off strong view that the 2024 elections were rigged and that the results announced by the IEC are not a true reflection of the will of the people. #sabcnews
— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) June 16, 2024
‘Enemy of progress’
The MK Party has also accused the governing African National Congress (ANC) of being the enemy of progress and has restated its claim that last month’s elections, which produced no outright majority, were rigged.
The ANC is in the process of forming a government of national unity with the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and others.
The party also used the briefing to denounce what it calls the “ANC of Ramaphosa”.
#MK Zuma: The sellout ANC of Ramaphosa has taken us back to 1948, millions and millions of our people have realized that the freedom starts with the removal of the ANC of Ramaphosa. #sabcnews
— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) June 16, 2024
2024 Elections Outcomes | These elections were a total sham: Nhlamulo Ndhlela
Progressive Caucus
uMkhonto we Sizwe party came in a surprisingly strong third in the May 29 election which saw the ANC lose its majority. MK won 14.6% of the vote which translated into 58 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly.
However, MK lawmakers boycotted the first sitting of the National Assembly on Friday after filing a complaint at the country’s top court alleging vote-rigging, which the court dismissed as without merit.
Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela tells reporters that the MK party will join the alliance called the “Progressive Caucus”, which includes the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the United Democratic Movement.
This alliance commands close to 30% of the seats in the National Assembly, Ndhlela says.
“This united effort is necessary because the 2024 election has also resulted in the consolidation of right-wing and reactionary forces who are opposed to economic freedom, radical economic transformation, racial equality and land repossession,” he says.
#MK Zuma: We will form part of the black caucus and will soon announce a program of the Progressive caucus in and outside parliament. #sabcnews
— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) June 16, 2024
Ndhlela says that MK had decided to take up its seats in the National Assembly after receiving legal advice and that it would continue to raise its allegations of rigged elections in parliament and in courts. -Additional reporting by Reuters
