JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has formally accused the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the African National Congress (ANC) of political double standards following reports of incomplete candidate list submissions. MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu warned that the electoral deadline must be applied equally to all political organizations, demanding that the ANC be held to the exact same standard without exception or special accommodation.
The controversy centers on the strict candidate submission deadline, which closed on Friday at 5:00 p.m. According to Mahlangu, the MK Party successfully met the deadline, but the ANC failed to submit complete lists for certain wards and regions in the Free State. The MK Party insists that the ANC should not be permitted to participate in elections in those specific municipalities, drawing a direct parallel to a previous election where the National Freedom Party (NFP) was barred from participating after failing to meet the same cutoff.
Mahlangu cited historical precedent as the basis for the party’s skepticism, alleging that during the 2024 election, the IEC granted the ANC a last-minute deadline extension following consultations involving former ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte. The MK Party has vowed to apply for an urgent interdict to halt the electoral process if the IEC attempts any maneuvering or grants an extension to the ANC, emphasizing that the deadline has unequivocally passed.
Beyond the submission dispute, the MK Party continues to raise concerns regarding the overall integrity of the electoral process. The party is currently engaged in litigation with the IEC over the unexplained disappearance of live results from the official dashboard during the 2024 general elections, which the MK Party has characterized as potential vote theft and rigging.
To safeguard the upcoming November 4th election, Mahlangu announced the establishment of a center, an independent operations hub based in Johannesburg. The center will utilize advanced software and international election consultants to independently tally results. Mahlangu stated this initiative is designed to match or exceed the IEC’s technological resources, ensuring a “hawk’s eye” is kept on the vote-counting process to prevent a recurrence of the alleged 2024 discrepancies.
In a related development stemming from recent revelations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, the MK Party also addressed the Justice Minister’s appointment of Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara as the acting head of the intelligence division, following the resignation of Andrea Johnson.
Mahlangu categorically rejected Vanara’s appointment, labeling him an ANC deployee. The spokesperson highlighted Vanara’s history as a parliamentary appointee and his subsequent role as head of legal at the SABC. Mahlangu also referenced past controversies, noting that Vanara had previously accused former Minister of State Security Bongani Bongo of attempted bribery—charges that were ultimately withdrawn after a court found no evidence of wrongdoing. The MK Party maintains that the acting head must be an impartial individual without partisan affiliations.
Finally, addressing broader security concerns, the MK Party responded to recent assertions by transnational crime expert Mark Shaw, who identified the MK Party as one of the most targeted political organizations for contract killings in South Africa. Mahlangu confirmed that the party has long maintained it is on a hit list orchestrated by rival political factions and “white monopoly capital,” adding that this severe security threat was formally corroborated during the proceedings of the Madlanga Commission.
