Former South African President Jacob Zuma has announced that his political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), will join the opposition alliance in parliament. Zuma stated that MK would collaborate to resist the governing coalition led by the African National Congress (ANC).
Despite this move, MK reiterated its claim that last month’s elections were rigged and called for the results to be annulled. Zuma’s speech on Sunday was delivered by MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, who criticized the ANC, saying it was no longer part of the solution.
Zuma declared that there was no government of national unity in South Africa, describing the coalition as a “white-led unholy alliance between the DA and the ANC of Ramaphosa.”
The ANC, which lost its outright majority for the first time since the end of apartheid, secured a power-sharing agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) over the weekend. Several smaller parties have also joined what the ANC terms a national unity government.
On Friday, MPs re-elected ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term as president, although the new government is yet to be formed. The DA and ANC, historically sworn enemies, have entered a power-sharing deal that was once deemed unimaginable by many South Africans.
The DA emerged from a union of groups, including remnants of the apartheid-era ruling National Party, and advocates free-market economics, which contrasts sharply with the ANC’s left-wing traditions.
### Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party Demands New Election, Joins Opposition
Former South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed on Sunday that his political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), has filed a court case seeking to invalidate the recent election results and call for a new vote. Addressing his supporters, Zuma urged them to “submit or fight” using peaceful means, stating, “We will fight to win back our country from the enemies of progress.”
There are concerns that Zuma’s stance could incite violence among his supporters, reminiscent of the deadly riots in July 2021 following his imprisonment for refusing to testify at a public inquiry into corruption during his administration. To preempt potential unrest, police reinforcements have been dispatched to his home province, KwaZulu-Natal.
The 82-year-old Zuma announced that MK would soon participate in parliamentary proceedings after boycotting the first session on Friday. In a surprising electoral performance, the newly formed MK emerged as the third-largest party, capturing 12% of the vote and securing 58 seats in parliament, significantly denting the ANC’s vote share.
Zuma stated that MK would join the official opposition, aligning with the Progressive Caucus, a coalition of smaller parties. This caucus, controlling nearly a third of parliamentary seats, includes the radical Economic Freedom Fighters and the center-left United Democratic Movement.
A longtime ANC veteran, Zuma parted ways with the party after being forced to resign as president in 2018 due to corruption scandals. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
