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The legal fight by South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) to stop a new political party from claiming the name and emblem of its erstwhile military wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe, has taken a blow.
The African National Congress (ANC) filed a lawsuit against the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, which is run by former President Jacob Zuma, claiming that the party violated the Trademark Act by using its former military branch's name and logo.
The ANC's appeal was rejected by the Durban High Court on Monday, allowing the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party to keep using its name, which means Spear of the Nation.
The ruling by the court is a major win for the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, especially in light of the impending general election that is set for May 29.
Jacob's supporters for the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party follows a recent setback for the ANC, where its efforts to prevent MK from participating in the upcoming election were thwarted as the ANC had argued that MK did not meet the official registration criteria.
The name and logo of uMkhonto we Sizwe hold immense political significance due to the historical role of the former armed wing in the struggle against apartheid, symbolising the fight against white-minority rule in South Africa.
