Traditional leaders slam ‘elitist’ MK after boycotting party’s anniversary bash over ‘ill-treatment’

Jacob Zuma at the Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) first anniversary rally At Moses Mabhida Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Durban, South Africa. The MKP became the biggest party in KwaZulu-Natal and the third biggest party in the country after the national government elections held on May 29. (Photo: Gallo Images / Elias Mbuwane)

By Nonkululeko Njilo

17 Dec 2024

Traditional leaders boycotted the MK party’s first anniversary gala dinner after being denied entry to the initial celebratory event at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Hundreds of other supporters, including those from Jacob Zuma’s homestead, Nkandla, also missed out due to the party’s failure to arrange transport.

At the heart of the MK party’s campaign for the 29 May elections was a promise to empower traditional leaders by giving them a stronger voice. However, the party’s anniversary celebrations this week revealed cracks in this commitment, as more than 130 traditional leaders boycotted the celebratory gala dinner on Monday, 16 December.

The event, which ran through the early hours of Tuesday, offered exclusive seating options, with the “Platinum Spear” section – providing an opportunity to sit close to former president Jacob Zuma – priced at R2-million for a group of 30, with the “Golden Spear” table going for R15-million and the Silver Spear” for R1-million.

Despite the hefty price tags, treasurer-general Thanti Mthanti made a direct appeal for donations. “The revolution needs money,” he said, urging attendees to “look deep in your pockets and help us where you can”.

Mthanti said the party was on an “aggressive” mission to fully set up a national office, and structures in provinces including Limpopo and North West.

Jacob Zuma at the MK party’s first anniversary celebrations at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on 16 December 2024. (Photo: Nonkululeko Njilo)

The traditional leaders boycotted the dinner after they were denied entry to the first-anniversary event at Moses Mabhida Stadium. They were not the only ones who faced difficulties, as hundreds of supporters too were unable to attend owing to the party’s failure to arrange transport. Branches from northern KwaZulu-Natal, including Zuma’s hometown of Nkandla, were among those affected.

Read more: Zuma calls on half-full stadium of MK party supporters to build black unity and 'take back what's ours' in 2029

According to the Injenje Council, the leaders were blocked from entering owing to accreditation problems which could not be resolved after several attempts. But the real grievance, they said, was ill-treatment, after which the traditional leaders from different provinces walked out of the event.

In a strongly worded statement on Monday night, the council slammed the party, saying it was turning into an elitist organisation, just like other political formations.

Dr Thanti Mthanti at the MK party’s first anniversary rally at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 15 December 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Elias Mbuwane)

“If amaKhosi are experiencing such unprecedented ill-treatment now at the hands of the MK party, we can only wonder what will happen at local government if the MK party wins, as the local government sphere is the level wherein cooperative governance with amaKhosi takes place. How can amaKhosi trust and throw their full weight behind the MK party when it is abundantly clear that there is a change in the MK party that is taking place from within, a change into an elitist organisation that says one thing but does another just like other political parties,” said council leader Phumlani Mfeka.

MK’s national organiser, Floyd Shivambu, apologised to those affected and made a commitment to visit their branches before the end of the year.

“There was no ill-intention,” Shivambu added.

Despite receiving more than 600,000 votes in eThekwini in the May elections, and more than four million nationally, the anniversary event failed to meet expectations, with the party unable to fill the stadium’s 56,000 seats.

The gates opened at 8am for the event, but the programme itself was delayed, and Zuma only arrived at the stadium at 2.30pm, by which time many supporters had already left, frustrated by the long wait, the scorching heat and hunger.

The MK leadership is set to conduct a “post-mortem” to assess the reasons for the poor turnout, said national chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko.

Member of the party’s national command Dali Mpofu attributed the inability to fill the stadium to sabotage by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and a busy December.

Although MK’s deputy secretary-general, Nombuso Mkhize, said the event was a success, adding: “There were two or three glitches that we identified which are prepared to deal and address as a collective.”

Jacob Zuma at MK’s first anniversary rally at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 15 December 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Elias Mbuwane)

Mkhize would not be drawn into discussing these glitches in detail, but said they were awaiting an official report on the number of people who showed up.

The party pulled out all the stops to celebrate its first anniversary, with giant cakes, food parcels, branded T-shirts and performances by some of South Africa’s top musicians.

Read more: The MK party’s year of living dangerously – from a dramatic political debut to internal turmoil

Shivambu sang Zuma’s praises for having taken what he said was a bold decision when he founded MK, given that he had been a loyal ANC member for decades.

“None of us could believe that President Zuma could take a bold decision to start an organisation and forgo, somehow, an organisation which he had served before for more than 60 years. That was one of the boldest actions, that is why some of us didn’t even have an iota of fear to leave just a 10-year-old organisation,” he said to loud applause.

Since the party’s formation in 2023, Zuma has consistently attacked the current government and the ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership. His criticism is largely driven by personal issues, such as his legal troubles and removal from office, which he blames on a plot led by Ramaphosa.

Sunday and Monday night were no different.

Despite winning 17% of the national vote and 45% in KwaZulu-Natal in May, the party believes it performed better and was robbed of a two-thirds majority (required to govern).

Zuma repeated this on Monday, saying the party would bring evidence before court when proceedings resume next year. Should the courts rule against MK, Zuma said he was prepared to sell his livestock to fund a legal application at the International Criminal Court.

“If the judges in South Africa don’t respect the law, my view is that we should go to the international court where the law will be exercised. It’s not a small matter to steal the votes of those who have won. If push comes to shove, I will sell my cattle in order to get the money to go there. We won,” he said.

Despite a strong electoral debut, MK finds itself in political limbo, struggling to turn its ballot success into real political influence.

After the 29 May polls MK emerged as the largest party in KwaZulu-Natal, winning 37 of the 80 seats in the provincial legislature, ahead of the IFP (15), ANC (14), DA (11), EFF (2), and NFP (1). While MK had hoped for a clear 50%+1 victory, disputes over the election results delayed coalition talks, allowing the IFP, ANC, DA, and NFP to form a governing coalition with 41 seats, leaving MK sidelined.

The party has vowed to ramp up its campaign for the 2026 local elections, and used its anniversary event to position itself as a champion of black unity. Zuma called for black parties to unite behind a single political formation by 2029, warning that without such unity, the opportunity to secure a two-thirds majority could be missed.

In the months since the elections it has been in almost constant litigation.

“Some people are trying their best to stop us, but unfortunately we are unstoppable,” Zuma said.

He also took a swipe at his party’s detractors. EFF leader Julius Malema is among those who have openly criticised MK and declared it enemy number one. Zuma said his members would not retaliate because they were focused on being exemplary.

“We are going to rule this country. We cannot behave like those who have failed to run the country. There is no reason why you should swear at other people; for me that is not politics”. DM

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