by Nurat Uthman
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is taking the independent electoral body and a rival political party fronted by the country’s former leader to court. It’s underscoring a fractious buildup to what could be the country’s most pivotal election in 30 years
The ANC says the new uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) party did not meet criteria when it was registered in September. The case at the Electoral Court in the central city of Bloemfontein opened on Tuesday.
It could see the new party, also known as MK and led by South African ex-president and former ANC leader President Jacob Zuma, deregistered and barred from standing in the May 29 national election. MK officials have said they would not accept being disqualified, with one threatening “civil war.”
MK has roiled the ANC by using the name of its now disbanded military wing that was founded by Nelson Mandela. The ANC is challenging the use of the uMkhonto weSizwe name and a logo that is very similar to that of its old military wing in a separate court case dealing with copyright infringement.
The decision by Zuma to pledge his support to MK added another element to the bitter rivalry. The parties have traded insults over the last few months. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula called Zuma “the most destructive person” for South Africa’s democratic progression and referred to officials in the new party as his “chihuahuas.”
Zuma was forced to step down as South Africa’s leader in 2018 amid corruption allegations and is currently on trial for graft, although that case has faced long delays. He has been highly critical of the ANC under his successor, current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
