The South African electoral commission declined a request to oust former President Jacob Zuma as the head of the newly established Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

The commission's decision came in response to a letter from MK founder Jabulani Khumalo, who sought Zuma's removal as the party's figurehead and from its potential list of parliamentary members.

Khumalo, recently ousted from the party, alleged fraudulent occupation of leadership by Zuma within the new party and placed him on a precautionary suspension for what he termed "several acts of misconduct."

However, in a Tuesday statement, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) asserted its non-interference in political parties' internal affairs and affirmed Zuma's status as a registered leader of the MK party.

"The commission only acts on the instruction of the registered leader of the party," the poll agency said, adding that Mr Zuma has remained MK party leader since last month.

The 82-year-old has successfully resisted efforts to prevent him or his new party from participating in the general election on May 29th.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court will review an appeal by the IEC regarding Mr. Zuma's disqualification from running for a parliamentary seat.

In March, the electoral commission made an unsuccessful attempt to disqualify him due to a contempt of court conviction.