By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
uMkhonto we Sizwe Party youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile announced former president Jacob Zuma as the organisation’s presidential candidate ahead of the
Khanyile addressed the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Zuma is the candidate number one on the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party list for the National Assembly in the 29 May polls, despite the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) saying people sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment are ineligible to stand for the elections.
Khanyile, who is accused of inciting the July 2021 riots, said the party is not willing to negotiate over Zuma’s position.
“We are not open for any engagements.”
“Don’t call us at night, don’t call us in clubs at night, don’t buy us nice things and try to woo us for any engagements. We are unavailable.
“The minute you start to open your mouth and say let’s talk on who is going to be the presidential candidate of MK, and you don’t mention the name of President Jacob Zuma, we drop the call.”
Since its formation five months ago the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has been shrouded in secrecy, mystery and uncertainty, with a curious mix of built-in dangers for an early demise and at the same time prospects for growth.
The MK Party does not have a constitution, clear policies or membership lists, and its structures are haphazard. The party has failed to rein in populists from acting or making inflammatory statements
It has, however, still been making inroads in ANC constituencies, especially in KZN, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, despite ANC leaders calling it a party of renegades which will fizzle out before the elections.
In recent by-elections in KZN, the MK Party has given both established parties a fright. Following its successful debut in Vryheid, where it took votes off the IFP, it took a seat off the ANC in Phongola.
A survey conducted by Social Research Foundation (SRF), which interviewed 820 people in KwaZulu-Natal between January 31 and February 7, showed that the MK party could deal a serious blow to ANC’s bid to retain the province after the elections.
In the 2019 general election, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal received 1.9 million votes (54.2%), down from the 2.4 million votes (64.5%) it mustered in the 2014 national election.
The SRF poll predicts that with a 66% voter turnout, the MK party could win 24% of votes in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC is projected to win 25%, the DA 15%, the IFP 24%, the EFF 5% and others 6%.