By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Western Cape High Court on Thursday dismissed Jabulani Khumalo’s bid to be reinstated on the party’s candidate list and sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP).
The court handed down judgement on Thursday and ruled that Khumalo’s application lacks urgency.
The court loss comes hours after the Electoral Court dismissed his case challenging his removal as MK Party leader.
Khumalo asked for his case be heard on an urgent basis on Thursday, a day before the first sitting of the National Assembly, which will swear in the new members of Parliament (MPs) from various political parties.
He argued the National Assembly cannot remove him as an MP pending an earlier court application for reinstatement as MK Party leader.
He said he would suffer irreparable harm should the court fail to reinstate him on the MK Party’s list of MPs.
Jacob Zuma’s legal counsel Thabani Masuku argued that Khumalo’s application for reinstatement is hopeless.
Legal expert Paul Hoffman says that this outcome was expected.
“He has been expelled from the party and he hasn’t been readmitted. If you are expelled from a party, you cannot represent a party in parliament. Until he gets his expulsion reversed, which he hasn’t done, he is a none-starter.”
Meanwhile, the MK Party said, they would lay perjury charges against Khumalo for lying under oath.
“To that end, MK Party leadership has already approached its legal team with the intention to open a criminal case against Jabulani Khumalo for lying under oath.”
“Concurrent with the court, we wish to send a message that indeed making false statements under oath and abuse of court process must be addressed sharply, “said in a statement.
The party has also reshuffled its national executive, moving Sihle Ngubane to Parliament and appointing Arthur Zwane and Thobani Shongwe as general secretary and deputy secretary.