uMkhonto weSizwe
Spear of the Nation
AbbreviationMK
LeaderJacob Zuma (de facto)
PresidentTBD[1]
CommanderJabulani Khumalo[1]
Secretary GeneralThanduxolo Dyodo (acting)[1]
Founded7 September 2023 (2023-09-07)[2][3]
Split fromAfrican National Congress
Political positionBig tent[4]
National Assembly
0 / 400
National Council of Provinces
0 / 90
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5
(South African seats)
Provincial Legislatures
0 / 430
Website
mkparty.org.za

uMkhonto weSizwe (English: Spear of the Nation), abbreviated as MK, is a South African political party founded in December 2023. The party is named after uMkhonto we Sizwe (also shortened to MK), the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) during apartheid. However, the ANC has threatened legal action over the usage of the name,[5] and the formation has been criticised by original MK veterans.[6]

The party rose to prominence in December 2023, when former president Jacob Zuma announced that, while planning to remain a lifelong member of the ANC, he would not be campaigning for the ANC in the 2024 South African general election, and would instead be voting for MK.[7] He stated that "I cannot and will not" campaign for the ANC of current president Cyril Ramaphosa, Zuma's successor, and that to do so would be a 'betrayal'.[8][9]

Election results

In February 2024, the party contested its first election, finishing third with 19% of the vote in the ward 8 by-election in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, behind the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on 47% and African National Congress (ANC) on 35%.[10]

Later that month, the party again finished third, winning 28% of the vote in an uPhongolo by-election, behind the IFP on 36% and the ANC on 33%.[11]

On 28 February 2024, the party contested a by-election in Govan Mbeki in Mpumalanga, its first outside KwaZulu-Natal, finishing second on 28% behind the ANC on 51%.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c https://mkparty.org.za/about-mk/leadership/party-leaders/ Party Leaders
  2. ^ https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-09-umkhonto-wesizwe-what-we-know-about-zumas-new-party/ uMkhonto Wesizwe: What we know about Zuma's new party
  3. ^ https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/political-party-called-umkhonto-wesizwe-among-others-gazetted-by-iec-to-contest-2024-national-elections-12313474-0dfd-4f70-9c5e-01792b011344 Political party called Umkhonto Wesizwe, among others, gazetted by IEC to contest 2024 national elections
  4. ^ https://mkparty.org.za/our-manifesto/
  5. ^ Ramushwana, Alpha. "Experts weigh in on the Legal tussle over the uMkhonto weSizwe name". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  6. ^ "MK veterans slam former president Jacob Zuma for his conduct". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  7. ^ "The battle for the soul of uMkhonto weSizwe". www.polity.org.za. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  8. ^ Mutsila, Lerato (2023-12-17). "Jacob Zuma ditches ANC in 2024 elections, vows 'total liberation". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  9. ^ "Former South African president Zuma leaves ANC". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  10. ^ Sussman, Wayne (2024-02-08). "IFP retains Vryheid, KZN ward amid ANC gains, strong MK debut". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  11. ^ Sussman, Wayne (2024-02-15). "MK party snatches votes from ANC in second Zululand scare". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  12. ^ Sussman, Wayne (2024-02-29). "MK takes votes from ANC, EFF in encouraging Mpumalanga debut". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-02-29.

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