Zuma’s MK Party unveils constitution that permits dual membership in ‘strategic’ cases

MK party (Photo: Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi)

11 Oct 2024

As the country gears up for the 2026 local government elections, the official opposition, MK Party, finally has a constitution, and has deployed senior members to work the ground in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. The party's deputy president, impeached judge John Hlophe, has also been announced as national disciplinary committee leader.

Exactly ten months after the announcement of the formation of the uMkhonto Wesizwe party, things are starting to take shape. The party has unveiled its constitution, which among other things allows for dual membership in “exceptional and strategic” circumstances, and with the approval of the party leadership.

Leader and founder of the party, Jacob Zuma, held a dual membership with MK and the African National Congress (ANC), a party he said he would die a member of.

Then in June, Zuma was expelled from the ANC for breaching its constitution by campaigning for a rival party (MK) in the 29 May general elections, which eventually culminated to the ANC’s worst electoral defeat — at 40.2%. Zuma appealed the sanction, according to the MK Party, but the matter has not been ruled upon by the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee.

MK unveiled its internal constitution, effective immediately, and addressed the media on the country’s political landscape on Friday 11 October, with MK’s national coordinator Floyd Shivambu stating the party’s position on Zuma’s dual membership:

“The case and the situation of our president and commander-general is a strategic one, and it is allowed as per the constitution. It is not just tailor-made for him, there are instances where we are going to allow members to be members of other political parties,” he said.

Shivambu also read a statement that was formulated, following the party’s National High Command (its highest decision-making body) recent meeting, which took a decision to deploy officials in various provinces ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Zuma has been deployed in KwaZulu-Natal

deputy president John Hlophe in the Western Cape

secretary-general Sifiso Maseko in Free State and Northern Cape

deputy secretary-general Nombuso Mkhize in Mpumalanga

Floyd Shivambu in Gauteng

chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko deployed in North West

deputy chairperson Wilson Sibiloane in Eastern Cape; and

treasurer-general Menzi Ngubane deployed in Limpopo.

To assist the officials, Shivambu said committees had been constituted.

Established in late 2023 without any leadership structures or clear policies, the MK Party contested its first general election on 29 May and won 15% of the national vote. In August, Daily Maverick reported that MK had been beset by leadership issues but was not planning to hold an elective conference any time soon, with leader Zuma describing such events as fake.

Jacob Zuma addresses the MK party. MK party (Photo: Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi)

No elective conferences

On Friday, both Shivambu and Zuma maintained the same posture, saying that elective conferences were to a larger extent undemocratic, and that their decision had been “well thought out”.

“I am sure all of you know that today those who win, are those who have the money. Is that democracy? Do you know that there are presidents who are presidents because they have all the money but they can’t do anything that is presidential. It has become a corrupt business, where people take money to pay to elect so and so,” Zuma said.

The party wants to first ensure “maximum stability” and have a “presence” in all corners of South Africa. This means that Zuma continues to have the prerogative to appoint leadership structures at all levels — indefinitely.

This is in line with the constitution, which stipulates that Zuma gives political and ideological guidance to the whole organisation. “The president is responsible for deployment and appointment, restructuring and removal of all national officials, members of the national high command including provincial conveners and coordinators.”

More on MK’s constitution

The constitution stipulates that membership is open to all South Africans who are "opposed to colonialism, white minority, racism domination and collaboration", and are of the voting age of 16 years and older.

New members will now be subjected to a 24-month probation period, which means that their membership may be summarily cancelled collectively by the national officials at any point during the probation period.

Read more: What is the MK party’s game in Parliament?

Furthermore, the cancellation of membership will be done against members who the national officials believe have violated the organisational principles, policies and prescripts, or are not aligned to the strategic objectives of the MK party.

This, according to Shivambu, is to maintain organisational discipline but is not cast in stone. “There are certain instances where we would not need a long disciplinary process, like when people go and disrupt meetings, produce firearms and threaten the security of our organisation,” he said.

Hlophe was announced as the party’s national disciplinary committee leader.

The constitution also calls for members not to throw insults at anyone — including political opponents — and for members to be educated. Members “must always seek to pursue further studies including further diplomas, degrees and certificates in different fields of study,” reads the 68-page document. DM

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No elective conferences

More on MK’s constitution