Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has set its sights on making a political statement in the Western Cape, on the back of its blockbuster recruitment of Floyd Shivambu.
In a statement, the MK party announced that community activist, Faizal Sayed, has joined the party and is set to serve as the party’s deputy spokesperson in the Western Cape.
Sayed, who was the premier candidate for the Allied Movement for Change (AM4C) party, joined the MK Party following discussions with the MK Party’s Western Cape coordinator.
“We welcome Cde Faizal Sayed to the MK Party in the Western Cape. Just like in Parliament, the MKP is attracting expertise to its core that will make it a force to be reckoned with as we move towards 2026,” the statement read.
“Faizel Sayed brings with him a large support base, his expertise in the media and communications environment and his energetic personality.”
Press Statement | Faizal Sayed joins MK Party #mkparty #MKP pic.twitter.com/aYxA2mswj8
— MK Party – Western Cape (@MKPartyWC) August 19, 2024
According to IOL, Mcumisa Mahangu, MK’s provincial spokesperson, said the party’s standing in the Western Cape was growing increasingly and claimed that their membership had risen to more than 200 000 members but the party had no representation in the provincial legislature. The Party was set to contest its first by-elections in Stellenbosch Ward 17 on 28 August, for the first time.
The EFF in the Western Cape did not view the MK Party as a threat, but rather an ally to unseat the DA. The EFF’s Aishah Cassiem said Cape Town was the best-performing metro for the EFF in the past elections and the MK Party could further reduce the votes of the DA.
Stellenbosch University senior political analyst Amanda Gouws said the MKP’s popularity, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, was no exaggeration, but claims that its membership in the Western Cape had reached 200 000 were not backed up by the party’s electoral support in the province, where it received only 15 766 votes.
According to SABC News, 10 of the 18 MK Party members who were removed from the National Assembly, are in the Western Cape High Court to contest the ruling and seek reinstatement.
The members asked that the termination of their party membership and removal from Parliament be overturned.
Axed uMkhonto WeSizwe Party members of Parliament are set to challenge their removal from their positions in the National Assembly by the party. The applicants are expected to make an application before the Western Cape High Court seeking reinstatement to Parliament.… pic.twitter.com/YlgMQho2eC
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 21, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
