Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) contested last Wednesday’s general election and despite a strong showing, which saw it emerge as the third-largest party in SA, it failed to win its desired two-thirds majority.
MK predictably failed to enjoy its victory and swiftly behaved like a spoilt brat, issuing unsubstantiated threats. On Saturday night, it made threats to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) if it released the election results without a nationwide recount. On Sunday, it boycotted the public ceremony to release the results for the election in which it polled an impressive 14%.
Zuma, who has threatened to shred the constitution he helped write if he comes to power, has sufficient avenues to pursue his grievance that MK was cheated. In the past two months, his rights — save for his right to stand as an MP as a convict — have been upheld by the courts for which he has utter disdain.
His avenues to pursue his grievance include approaching the courts. But the horse has already bolted. A majority of the parties, including some within his hastily convened coalition of the wounded, have grudgingly accepted the results. So too have independent observers.
His latest gimmick is to boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the new legislators in the vain hope that this will render the new parliament inquorate.
Zuma has no right to hold the country hostage to his whims. He has to play by the rules he agreed when his party signed the electoral code of conduct.
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