The Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by former South African President Jacob Zuma, will not be part of the forming government of national unity in South Africa and will instead lead the opposition in parliament, stated MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela during a press conference.
Ndhlela informed reporters, reading a statement on Zuma's behalf, that the MK party will join the "Progressive Caucus," an alliance that also includes the United Democratic Movement and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
"This united effort is necessary because the 2024 election has also resulted in the consolidation of right-wing and reactionary forces who are opposed to economic freedom, radical economic transformation, racial equality, and land repossession," he said.
Ndhlela stated that the coalition held about 30 percent of the seats in the National Assembly. He said it was anticipated to take on the Government of National Unity, which included the Democratic Alliance (DA), the African National Congress Party (ANC), and the smaller Inkatha Freedom Party.
"[This] puts us in a very strong position to fight for the total economic liberation of black and African people," he said.
Under Zuma's directive, MK boycotted the first session of the new parliament held on June 14, during which the incumbent President of South Africa and leader of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, was re-elected for another five-year term.
Ndhlela also clarified that the party will keep bringing up its claims of vote-rigging in the legislature and in court.
"The 2024 elections were rigged. [...] We have instructed our legal team to take any steps possible both inside of South Africa and internationally to ensure that justice is done," the party's spokesperson underlined.
According to Zuma, the party has filed a lawsuit with the Electoral Commission. Once more, the MK party leader asserted that there were manipulations surrounding the elections; the support of MK voters was not 14.5%, as announced by the EC, but 66%, he said.
The MK's lawsuit against the EC has not yet had a hearing date set. A similar MK complaint was denied last week by the South African Constitutional Court, which said that it was improper to entertain it without first seeking an EC decision.
President Ramaphosa proposed the Government of National Unity on June 6 after no party secured a parliamentary majority in the general elections. The ANC won 159 seats, and the DA secured 87 seats.
MK, securing 58 seats and becoming the third most influential party, joined the Progressive Caucus on June 14. This alliance, which includes the EFF and the South African Muslim community's representative party, Aljama-ah, now holds nearly a third of the seats in the 400-member National Assembly.