MK Party cash crisis puts planned manifesto launch at risk ahead of local elections - IOL

MK Party president Jacob Zuma faces renewed scrutiny over the party’s finances as it prepares for local government elections and a planned manifesto launch in eThekwini.

The MK Party is facing a financial crisis that could leave it unable to hold its planned manifesto launch ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

The Sunday Times reported that the party is struggling to pay service providers, with unpaid bills adding to pressure on its preparations for the elections.

The party had planned to hold its manifesto launch in eThekwini, where it hopes to make significant gains in the local government elections.

The financial problems have also raised questions about how the party will fund its wider election campaign as it prepares to contest its first local government elections.

The financial difficulties come after MK Party president Jacob Zuma took control of the organisation's finances and tightened oversight of spending.

Last month, Zuma revoked the signing authority of party officials, including the treasurer-general and secretary-general, and dissolved the party's strategic presidential team.

The move followed concerns over the management of party finances, with Zuma taking control of contracts with service providers.

The party subsequently warned that it would not accept responsibility for commitments, contracts or financial liabilities entered into by members of the dissolved strategic presidential team without the party's approval.

In July, Zuma also announced a temporary freeze on the party's bank accounts and stopped spending across its national, provincial and regional structures pending a financial review.

The financial problems are not new.

In January, Zuma removed then treasurer-general Mpiyakhe Limba and said the party was in a “pitiful financial crisis”.

In June, the party announced that travel, accommodation, car hire and venue hire funded by the organisation would be suspended.

The treasurer-general's office said the move was intended to allow it to focus on critical financial processes, including debtor management, refining the budget and ensuring the appropriate allocation of funds to keep the organisation financially viable.

The financial pressure comes as the MK Party ramps up its preparations for the November 4 local government elections, with eThekwini among its key battlegrounds in KwaZulu-Natal.

The party’s strong performance in the 2024 general elections has raised the stakes. It won 14.58% of the national vote and secured 58 seats in the National Assembly, making it the country’s third-largest party.

The MK Party is also dealing with a separate dispute over its candidate lists after raising concerns that legitimate candidates were removed from lists submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa and replaced.

The party said it was investigating the alleged manipulation of its lists as it works to finalise its election campaign.