In South Africa, Zuma changes MK candidate for eThekwini mayor
In South Africa, uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party leader and former president Jacob Zuma has changed the party’s candidate for mayor of eThekwini. Instead of Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi, whom the party presented on August 28, Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi was named the new candidate.
As Daily Maverick reports, the decision was made amid an internal dispute over candidate selection ahead of local elections scheduled for November 4. Zuma ordered an investigation into claims of possible manipulation of candidate lists for councils that were to be submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Claims regarding candidate lists
MK stated that lawfully nominated candidates may have been removed from the lists and replaced with other individuals. The party said the allegations concern the integrity of its internal procedures and the democratic will of its structures and members.
Until the necessary procedures are completed, Zuma suspended Hlophe-Mkhwanazi and party National Liaison Committee member Sibonelo Maphumulo from work in that body. The committee is the official channel for interaction between parties and the electoral commission on electoral matters; each political force may have only two representatives in it.
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Submitted nominations will not be changed
Phakathi is associated with the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ. He was previously a member of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature and headed the African Transformation Movement there, later joining MK.
At the same time, the party cannot change the names of candidates already submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa. The commission said that the acceptance of nominations ended at 17:00 on August 28. It is to publish the final list of candidates on September 16 and issue candidate certificates on September 25.
Zuma also announced another dissolution of the 11-member Presidential Working Group, created in February to manage party activities ahead of municipal elections. In July, it was replaced by the Strategic Presidential Team, but this decision was reversed in early August and the working group was restored.
