ANC orders Umkhonto weSizwe party to stop using its trademark

The ANC has threated the leader of the newly-formed Umkhonto weSizwe political party, Jabulani Khumalo, with legal action should he not stop using its trade mark.

 The governing party says its lawsuit will include a claim for royalty payment.

 The new party on the block recently made waves after former President, Jacob Zuma, pledged his support for the organisation, making it public that he will not be voting for the ANC in next year’s elections.

 The ANC has given Khumalo until next week Friday to drop the party name and logo.

 In the lengthy letter to Khumalo, the ANC says it has used its trademark since the launch of the party’s paramilitary wing in 1961, with the Sharpeville massacre having being the catalyst for the move.

 The party says it has statutory rights in the trademark, which have acquired strong common law rights in the mark.

 

 Concern over votes

Zuma’s decision has raised fears that the ANC could lose KwaZulu-Natal in next year’s elections due his strong support base in the province.

 The former statesman says the ANC has taken a turn for the worse under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration and he won’t support what the party has become.

 Ramaphosa has, however, downplayed the move, saying the ANC has noted Zuma’s announcement and every South African has a right to vote for a political party of their choice.

 The ANC and SACP in KwaZulu-Natal are on the other hand on the panicking mode, appealing to members to remain loyal to the party and not individuals.

 The IFP, which remains the biggest opposition party in KZN, however seems not to shaken by Umkhonto weSizwe.

 The IFP has dismissed the party as an organisation that’s not different to other small parties that mushroom before elections.

Staunch Zuma supporter, Ngizwe Mchunu, is meanwhile expected to make an announcement regarding the MK party on Saturday.