MK Party brings Durban to a standstill

UMkhonto weSizwe Party members protest in Durban over allegations of vote rigging during the May 2024 election. Picture: Lungani Zungu/ Independent Newspapers

UMkhonto weSizwe Party members protest in Durban over allegations of vote rigging during the May 2024 election. Picture: Lungani Zungu/ Independent Newspapers

Published Jul 17, 2024

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Durban — The staunch supporters of the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) brought the City of Durban to a standstill on Wednesday.

Clad in MKP regalia, more than a thousand supporters marched against an array of issues, including what they called the rigging of votes during the May 29 elections.

There was a heavy presence of police, who kept a close watch on the march.

They took aim at the Government of National Unity (GNU), labelling it an illegitimate government.

Among the marchers was prominent MKP member Bonginkosi Khanyile.

“We will not rest until our votes are returned. We have come here in our thousands to speak out against the broad day robbery where the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa) stole our votes,” Khanyile said.

One of the march organisers, Bishop Bheki Ngcobo, said: “We are here today because we were robbed of votes. This march is to say we will not let the matter go until justice is done.”

Chanting struggle songs, the MKP marched from King Dinuzulu Park through Pixley KaSeme Street (West Street) to the Durban City Hall.

Some of them hoisted placards bearing the words: “KZN Belongs to MK Party”.

Others said “Down With The GNU”, in reference to the cocktail of parties, formed after the May elections failed to produce a clear winner.

This was after the ANC sank from the 57% of the vote it garnered in 2019 to 40%, forcing it to form a government with other parties, including the DA.

The MKP has been accusing the IEC of robbing the party, claiming that 9.3 million votes were unaccounted for during the May elections.

The party launched a legal challenge against the IEC but abruptly withdrew it recently.

The IEC is not letting the matter go, saying the allegations made by the MKP have been damaging to its reputation.

The matter will be heard virtually on Monday, July 29, at 9 am, according to the registrar of the Electoral Court, Delisile Nhlapho in a letter dated, Monday, July 15.

UMkhonto weSizwe Party members brought Durban to a standstill, protesting over the allegations of vote rigging during the May 2024 election. Picture: Lungani Zungu/ Independent Newspapers

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