By: Natasha Archary

The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its bid to deregister the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) from the 2024 elections.
On Tuesday, 26 March the Electoral Court ruled that there was nothing unlawful about the registration of the MK Party.
“In the result the following order is made, the application is dismissed with no order as to costs.
We therefore find that there is nothing unlawful about the registration of the MK Party.”
Point of View with Phemelo Motene discussed the ruling with the former IEC Commissioner Terry Tselane and Legal expert Mpumelelo Zikalala.
Listen to the full conversation here:
A unanimous decision at the Electoral Court delivered by Judge Adams made it clear that regulations do not prohibit the DCEO of the IEC to register a party.
“Section 15 ensures that everyone can register a political party, the DCEO applied the requirements of the act on 07 September 2023.”
MK Party which is being spearheaded by former ANC leader and President, Jacob Zuma may have won this battle but the clash between ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe over copyright infringement is pending.
On Wednesday, 27 March the ANC will take the MK Party to the Durban High Court over the trademark logo and name which was associated with the ruling party’s military wing.
The ANC has denounced the name of the party and the use of the Mkhonto We Sizwe’s (military wing) trademark logo, saying there are similarities in both.



