Former South African Leader Zuma's Party Joins Opposition in Parliament

South Africa's uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, announced on Sunday that it will join an alliance of smaller opposition parties in parliament. This move is aimed at challenging the coalition government formed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The ANC, South Africa's long-time ruling party, recently partnered with the pro-business DA in a coalition they are calling a "government of national unity." This collaboration marks a significant shift after three decades of ANC dominance.

In the May 29 election, the uMkhonto we Sizwe party performed unexpectedly well, securing 14.6% of the vote. This translated into 58 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly, placing MK in a strong third position behind the ANC and DA. Despite this success, MK lawmakers boycotted the first session of the National Assembly.

They had filed a complaint with the country's top court alleging vote-rigging, but the court dismissed their claims as baseless.

Nhlamulo Ndhlela, a spokesperson for Zuma, read a statement confirming that MK will join an alliance known as the "Progressive Caucus." This coalition includes the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the centre-left United Democratic Movement (UDM). Together, this alliance holds close to 30% of the seats in the National Assembly.

During the announcement, Zuma, who appeared with a cough but responded to questions, was joined by Ndhlela and leaders from various small parties. The MK's strategic move to form this opposition alliance signifies a new dynamic in South African politics, challenging the existing power structures led by the ANC and DA.