You are here: HomeAfrica2024 04 22Article 1927135

Africa News of Monday, 22 April 2024

Source: bbc.com

South Africa election: ANC loses battle for Zuma's MK party name and logo

The spear logo is similar to that used by the now defunct armed wing of the ANC The spear logo is similar to that used by the now defunct armed wing of the ANC

South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) has lost a legal bid to stop a new party from using the name and logo of its former armed wing.

The governing ANC had argued that uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), headed by ex-President Jacob Zuma, had breached trademark law.

But the Durban High Court disagreed, allowing the use of the name, which translates as Spear of the Nation.

It is a significant victory for MK ahead of the 29 May general election.

Mr Zuma's supporters cheered and chanted in court after the judgment was delivered.

Last month, the ANC suffered another legal blow in its attempt to stop MK from running in the election, saying it had not met the official registration criteria.

The MK name and logo hold huge political symbolism because of the now-defunct armed wing's role in fighting for the end of white-minority rule in South Africa.