South Africa’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party announced on Sunday that it will join an alliance of smaller opposition parties in parliament to challenge the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance-led coalition government.
This decision comes after the ANC and the Democratic Alliance agreed to form a coalition government, termed a “government of national unity,” marking a significant shift after three decades of ANC rule.
uMkhonto we Sizwe, led by former president Jacob Zuma, emerged as a surprisingly strong third in the May 29 election, winning 14.6% of the vote and securing 58 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly.
However, MK lawmakers boycotted the first sitting of the National Assembly after alleging vote-rigging, which the country’s top court dismissed as baseless.
In a statement read by spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela on behalf of Zuma, the MK party announced its decision to join the alliance known as the “Progressive Caucus,” which includes the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the center-left United Democratic Movement.
This alliance collectively holds close to 30% of the seats in the National Assembly.
“This united effort is necessary because the 2024 election has also resulted in the consolidation of right-wing and reactionary forces who are opposed to economic freedom, radical economic transformation, racial equality and land repossession,” he said.
Ndhlela stated that MK had chosen to occupy its seats in the National Assembly after consulting legal counsel, and the party intends to persist in bringing its allegations of election rigging to both parliament and the courts.
Despite the Independent Electoral Commission’s declaration that the election was conducted fairly and freely, MK remains steadfast in its claims.
Furthermore, Zuma criticized the newly formed unity government, which includes two smaller parties, the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party and the right-wing Patriotic Alliance.
He described this coalition as “meaningless” and characterized it as a “white-led unholy alliance.”
