Expelled MKP founder hit with another punitive cost order

uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) founder Jabulani Khumalo in the Electoral Court in Johannesburg on June 3, 2024.

The expelled founder of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Political Party, Jabulani Khumalo, has been hit with another punitive cost order. This, after he withdrew his urgent application for the directorship of the MK Party NPC – a non-profit company.

Khumalo had challenged what he termed his unlawful removal as MKP director. He had approached the high court on an urgent basis.

He has argued that the removal of his name was not only fraudulent, but was not authorised, as he did not sign a valid resolution to have their names removed.

Arguing for the defence, Adv Dali Mpofu contended that the court should not only dismiss the application, but grant the party punitive costs because Khumalo’s application was an abuse of the courts.

Mpofu says, “Really, let me summarise it like this, my Lord, the cumulative effect of all these factors my lord is such that your Lordship has no option but to send a message not just to this litigant but to other litigants out there, (that) the courts are not here as some political playground and secondly, cannot be abused in this manner.”

Mpofu says the court has been “overly patient”.

“Even this morning, my Lord, the abuses that have gone, this court has been overly patient having to adjourn twice for a simple outcome which should’ve been the withdrawal of the matter and at least a tender of costs,” he adds.