The African National Congress (ANC) has reportedly taken its logo dispute with the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party to the Electoral Court.

ANC secretary-general (SG) Fikile Mbalula revealed during a live interview with eNCA that he had signed papers on Tuesday.

"MK is our trademark. It is well known in South Africa. It's the people's army, and it belongs to the ANC," he said.

Mbalula added that the ANC challenged the formation of the MK Party in May and won, but later a certificate was awarded to the new organisation without the party's knowledge.

"The technicality about that was that [there] was a gazette, and we didn't respond. We were unaware of that, and once we were aware, we responded. We are challenging that and we are going to the Electoral Court. I signed the papers [on Tuesday]," he added.

Interim MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said: "We have just heard statements that were mentioned by Fikile Mbalula. We will respond accordingly when we receive court papers; until then, it is just hearsay."

The two parties are embroiled in a legal battle over the use of the MK logo. The ANC believes the logo bears similarities to that of its military wing, uMkhonto weSizwe.

In a letter of demand, the ANC submitted that the logo would confuse voters at the polls. 

In what appeared to be a desperate attempt to spin his most recent statements on using millions of taxpayers' money for security upgrades to former president Jacob Zuma's homestead in Nkandla, including R4-million on a "fire pool", Mbalula said he was speaking to ANC cadres and would not sugarcoat his message. 

Mbalula added that he was not throwing party members under the bus when he said the party had lied to defend Zuma. He was relaying historical facts, he said.

"I was not addressing a media conference. I was speaking to ANC supporters, and when I talk to ANC supporters and members, I don't sugarcoat issues. I say what they know and what is the truth, and that truth is on that day, Nkandla was explained," he added.

Since then, former police minister Nathi Nhleko said his 2014 claim that the R4-million pool was a "fire pool" aimed at securing the home of the president at the time was backed up by facts.

Mbalula said he would engage with Nhleko "quietly as per ANC standards". He added that ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe had broken ANC protocol by speaking out publicly against him. 

Mantashe told journalists on Tuesday that Mbalula may have been excited by the press when he commented on the fire pool in Nkandla. 

Mbalula said that while Mantashe had yet to answer his phone calls, he would meet with him in Mbombela to discuss the matter.

"I will get him every day. Every day we meet. I am not in a hurry about it.

"I think in his way, he thought he was doing something good for the movement, and in this particular instance, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Who am I in the ANC? I am just the SG," Mbalula added.

In the ANC's build-up programme on Thursday, party leaders and members embark on poverty alleviation programmes, which includes planting vegetable gardens in the area.