The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has confirmed the “successful registration” of the new kid on the political bloc – the Umbutho Wabantu Party.

This party has become South Africa’s latest political home for former uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and ANC members, Thanduxolo “Gorbachev” Dyodo and Ntseki Macdonald Mathabe, who launched this party in Soweto on Thursday.

Umbutho Wabantu was unveiled as a party for and by the people by the two former members revealed that their consultations with ordinary South Africans, after leaving the MKP over a year ago, encouraged its formation.

To achieve what the MKP has failed to achieve in its 18 months, the two former members have committed themselves to taking the party to its first elective conference by January 2026.

“Indeed, we went around the country and the reason for that was to make sure that we build a new home and institution that sits in the hearts of all South Africans for South Africans to take over and lead in providing them with their solutions to their challenges…. We have many political parties that are not based on the needs of the people.

“So, when we left the MKP, we went to introspect ourselves and went to the people and spent more than 15 months engaging with the people, who have indicated to us that indeed, there has to be a new home,” said Mathabe.

Dyodo, who addressed the media briefing, indicated that their frustrations with their former political homes, the ANC and the MKP, were due to the failure by the two parties to recognise the importance of the voice of the people among leaders.

“It became clear that things would not change, and after much deliberation, it would be irresponsible for us to refuse our people a new home called Umbutho Wabantu, which has been successfully registered. We are of the view that the power of the nation is its people, and Umbutho Wabantu has a commitment to give people the party to the people. To do that, we have committed to having our first elective conference by December or January next year,” he stated.

Political analyst Thobani Zikalala said that a new political party in a sea of more than 100 other parties does not solve the issues of this country.

“I do not think South Africa needs another political party. Of course, politicians, because of their egos and their need to lead and to have their own small spaces to operate, will form their own parties. If you look into the country’s political spectrum, all the parties that are being founded are not serious alternatives to already existing parties but replicas, with most of them having no real political ideologies that distinguish them from the existing parties,” he said.

Zikalala added that the country’s liberal laws when it comes to allowing anyone to open a political party have made it easy for egotistical leaders to start their parties with little to no political solution.

“Because of the country’s freedom, which allows anyone to open their parties, we are now entertaining egos. Mathabe and Dyodo know that they do not have the political clout to even command a very serious political organisation. They are hoping to have their enclave, where they operate with some power,” he added.

IEC spokesperson, Kate Bapela, confirmed that the commission does indeed recognise this new party, saying: ” Yes, we can confirm that this party is registered with us.”

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

Source link