Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has appointed State Capture-accused former SARS commissioner, Tom Moyane, and former police minister, Nathi Nhleko, as part of its coalition negotiating team.
The two men, along with MK secretary-general, Sihle Ngubane, met with the ANC and several other parties to discuss the national and provincial governments. The party also allegedly had a meeting with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) negotiation team, TimesLIVE reported.
Nhleko, who was police minister during Zuma’s tenure as president, defending him during the Nkandla scandal, and made the infamous “fire pool” comments, withdrew his membership from the ANC after his values were not aligned to the party, later joined Zuma in the MK Party.
Moyane, another Zuma loyalist, led the hollowing out at SARS, was fired by Ramaphosa under the recommendations of judge Robert Nugent during the SARS inquiry.
The MK Party, who performed well in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) and overtook the ANC as the number one party in the province, will be looking for support after it fell just short of a majority.
MK party clarifying its position on its attendance in Parliament:
MK Party has noted with concern some mischievous media reports suggesting that we have changed our stance regarding our decision not to attend Parliament due to the glaring election rigging by the Independent… pic.twitter.com/cil2GBuzfe
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (@MkhontoweSizwex) June 7, 2024
With the ANC announcing it will participate in a Government of National Unity (GNU), opposition parties were invited to participate in meetings, which included the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) to present the offer.
Meanwhile, a group of small parties, including BOSA, UDM, ACDP, PAC, and UAT, have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on the formation of a GNU. The parties believe there should be a meeting that will address the challenges of the “envisaged government” and fulfill the constitutional inheritance.
This meeting must serve as a platform for fostering a transparent collaborative agenda for South Africa and the ANC cannot lead discussions of a GNU on their own.
“With the landscape of governance evolving, characterised by shifting alliances and the absence of a clear majority, it is essential to establish a framework for inclusive decision-making. We, the representatives of various political parties represented in the parliament of South Africa, write to you as the custodian of the constitution and the vision espoused by the Constitutional Court,” the parties told Zondo.
MK party spokesperspon, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said the Party is open to working with the ANC as a party but has said it would not do so unless Cyril Ramaphosa resigns as president. The ANC has called for a national dialogue between parties and stakeholders after the election of a new president.
Parties have only nine days to agree on a coalition arrangement after the ANC failed to retain its majority in the polls.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
