Khumalo's high court bid for parliamentary seat struck off the roll

This is the second court loss for the MK Party founder

13 June 2024 - 15:57
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo will not be sworn in as an MP.
MK Party founder Jabulani Khumalo will not be sworn in as an MP.
Image: Lubabalo Lesolle/Gallo Images

MK Party founding leader Jabulani Khumalo has been dealt another blow by the courts.

The Western Cape High Court has struck from the roll his application to be retained on his party’s list of MPs.

This means Khumalo, who is believed to have travelled to Cape Town on Wednesday in anticipation of being sworn in, cannot attend the National Assembly's first sitting on Friday.

The court loss comes hours after the Electoral Court dismissed his case challenging his removal as MK Party leader.

He argued his signature was forged in a letter sent to the Electoral Commission of South Africa stating he had ceded power to former president Jacob Zuma.

The back-to-back losses mean Khumalo is neither MK Party leader nor an MP.

In the case against his removal as an MP, Khumalo launched an urgent court bid this week after parliament confirmed he had been removed from the list as per instruction from the MK Party’s now former secretary-general Sihle Ngubane.

Khumalo 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.

Khumalo said he would not be able to participate in parliamentary processes on behalf of his constituency.

The court dismissal comes before parliament’s first sitting scheduled for Friday, where MPs are expected to be sworn in and a president elected.

TimesLIVE


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.