CAPE TOWN, June 25 – South Africa’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party lawmakers were sworn in as parliamentarians on Tuesday, following their boycott of the first National Assembly session nearly two weeks ago.
The MK party, affiliated with former South African president Jacob Zuma, initially abstained from the June 14 session due to a complaint filed with the country’s top court alleging vote-rigging in the May 29 election. This complaint was dismissed as without merit.
Defying expectations, MK secured third place in the election, where the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority. Despite their success, MK declined to join a government of national unity.
All 58 MK lawmakers, including Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, took the oath of office, allowing the lower house of parliament to proceed with its duties. Among the newly sworn-in members were former finance minister Des van Rooyen and former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe, who was impeached by the previous parliament for misconduct related to a Zuma corruption case.
The MK party is part of a coalition of smaller opposition parties that has been losing traction, as many supporters shift towards the ANC and the Democratic Alliance-led coalition government, which now includes ten parties.
Former ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa was also sworn in, drawing criticism from the COSATU labor federation. COSATU, which has supported the ANC in an alliance with the South African Communist Party since 1994, condemned the decision, stating, “It sends a painfully worrying question to society on whether the ANC is committed to holding its public representatives accountable.”
The labor federation called the decision “poorly thought through and ill-considered,” suggesting it undermines the ANC’s anti-corruption stance championed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which has led to party members stepping aside when facing serious criminal charges.
