Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has revealed that former president Jacob Zuma will not be attending the opening of Parliament on Thursday, despite being invited as an esteemed guest.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to make his first address to Parliament on Thursday evening, which marks the beginning of the seventh administration under the new Government of National Unity (GNU).
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, said Zuma was among the guests invited by parliament. Despite this invitation, he is unlikely to make it, TimesLIVE reported.
“We have invited former president Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma. We have also invited our former speaker Baleka Mbete, and deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and David Mabuza. We have also invited our former speakers, including Thandi Modise as well as Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula,” Mtshweni-Tsipane said.
ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli on the attendance of former President Jacob Zuma at the Opening Address of Parliament in Cape Town @NkosinathiShazi pic.twitter.com/OlPCSg3vy2
— POWER987News (@POWER987News) July 18, 2024
MK Party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Nhlela, said the party leader will not attend the event.
“Can you imagine President Zuma going there and sitting across Ramaphosa, and [Ramphosa] addressing him? The only bridge we need to cross is to see Ramaphosa resigning,” he said.
Ndhlela reiterated his views on X, saying he would only attend the sitting over “Helen Zille’s dead body”
“Those that think President Zuma will attend the Opening of Parliament led and addressed by Cyril Ramaphosa are totally dislodged from reality. It’s over “Helen Zille’s” dead body that you will find President Zuma under the same roof with a traitor addressing him and the Nation!!”
According to The Citizen, this would have marked the first time Zuma would have attended a Parliamentary sitting as an opposition leader. He is facing disciplinary action from the ANC for bringing the party into disrepute after forming and campaigning for the MK party while still an ANC member.
Those that think President Zuma will attend the Opening of Parliament led and addressed by Cyril Ramaphosa are totally dislodged from reality. It’s over “Helen Zille’s” dead body that you will find President Zuma under the same roof with a traitor addressing him and the Nation!!
— Nhlamulo Swabihi Ndhlela Ntukulu Wa Ka Moyane (@NhlamuloNdhlela) July 17, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
