The Electoral Court has ruled against the African National Congress (ANC) in its bid to deregister
former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) political party. The court found that the
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) acted lawfully when registering the MK party.

Delivering the judgment, Judge Lebogang Modiba dismissed the ANC’s application, stating that their
complaints lacked merit and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. “The ANC failed to
explain why the decision was taken for its next court action. The ANC should have instituted these
court actions within three days of the MK party’s registration,” Modiba said.

The judge noted that the ANC had two opportunities to object to the registration but failed to do so
promptly. “The ANC’s appeal on 7 September doesn’t justify the delay in bringing its present
application,” Modiba added.

The ANC had sought to declare the MK party’s registration unlawful, arguing that it violated the
Electoral Commission Act and the Constitution. However, the court ruled that the IEC followed the
prescribed legal processes in registering the party.

The ruling deals a blow to the ANC’s efforts to prevent Zuma’s new party from contesting future
elections. The governing party is expected to react to the judgment and announce its next course of
action.

The MK party, named after the former armed wing of the ANC, was launched by Zuma in late 2022
amid his ongoing legal battles and fallout with the ANC leadership.