The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party is contesting another litmus test by-election in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday torn apart by two provincial factions.

This is after yesterday the Electoral Court upheld the registration of Sthabiso Nkabinde as the party’s candidate for ward 2 by-election in Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg) in the province’s Midlands where the party performed well during the May 29 provincial and national elections.

The troubles started when two posters of candidates emerged and were circulated to the public for support. One had Nkosikhona Mshengu and the other one had the face of Nkabinde.

One faction of the MK Party then took the IEC, Nkabinde and Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, the party’s own Member of the Provincial Legislature to the Electoral Court to set aside the registration of Nkabinde. 

The application was summarily dismissed.

However, after the court ruling, the Convener of the party in the province, Willies Mchunu issued a statement where he said the community wanted Mshengu and they will not go against that wish.

“We confirm that the community has exercised their democratic right by choosing Nkosinathi Mshengu who was subsequently registered as a candidate with the IEC on the 11 November 2024. 

“It is our firm belief that the community of Moses Mabhida and Ward 2 particularly, has a liberty to choose a leader of their preference in line with the prescript of our constitution. The Convenor will not by any means impose a candidate to any community, it therefore remains a decision that rests squarely upon the community,’ reads a statement that was issued on behalf of Mchunu. 

The spokesperson of the IEC in KwaZulu-Natal, Thabani Ngwira, said they followed the law in registering Nkabinde and the court agreed with them.

“We only allow candidate nomination documents from an authorised party person as per our records and we did just that [and the] Electoral Court agreed with us,” Ngwira said.

The results of the by-elections are expected around 11pm today.