ANC vs. MK: Battle over use of MK name heads to SCA

The battle for the heart and soul of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) – the now disbanded former military wing of the African National Congress (ANC) continues.

This comes as the ANC has filed papers in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) after the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban ruled in favour of the ANC in August 2024 and granted leave to appeal the whole order and judgment of the court to the appellate court.

The High Court was satisfied that the appeal would have a reasonable prospect of success as another Court could differ from the views reached by it.

The ANC, which seeks to halt the newly-formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party from using the uMkhonto we Sizwe name and logo, has filed papers, arguing that what is at issue fundamentally in the appeal is whether the MK political party, a new party with no history, or goodwill of its own, is entitled to abrogate to itself proprietorship of names, symbols and history indelibly associated with the ANC.

The appellate court has yet to set a date for the hearing.