Former Western Cape Division of the High Court Judge John Hlophe has said that the MK party will fight the land issue ‘unapologetically’ after being sworn in as the party’s Chief Whip in Parliament.
Hlophe was sworn in as Mk party finally submitted it’s 58 member list to be sworn in the National Assembly.
The MK party boycotted the parliament’s first sitting which saw President Cyril Ramaphosa being re-,elcted as the President for the Seventh Administration under the Government of National Unity (GNU) as the ANC failed to garher enough votes to become a leading party.
Hlophe who is said to be the first judge in the democratic South Africa to be impeached said the MK party is also not apologetic in it’s call ” for the law to be Africanised by bringing back the laws that used to govern the African people.
He explained that one of the laws is that the land in Africa can never be the subject of private ownership.
“The land belongs to the nation. It doesn’t form part of private ownership”.
Hlophe said the African National Congress (ANC) has gone astray.
“This is no longer the party we used to know, particularly over the past five years under the leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa. This is no longer the ANC which fights for poor people and landless people. It is a different ANC all together,” said Hlophe.
Hlophe also stressed that the MK will still persue it’s legal case as it is not happy about how the IEC conducted the May 29 elections in the country.
The forner judge also highlighted that his party will be joining progressive parties im Parliament such as the EFF and the African Transformative Movement (ATM) as the opposition party since the Democratic Alliance (DA) has joined thr GNU formation.
He stated that the MK has joined parliament to work and reiterated that his party will do it’s best to stay above the party politics as they are elected by the South Africans.
Hlophe mentioned that EFF leader Julius Malema has offered to assist the MK party members as they familiarise themselves with parliament proceedings.
Forner Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwebane also attended the proceedings to support her husband who is also said to have joined the MK party in parliament.
Amongst the MK members who have made it to the MK list are former Finance Minister Des Van Rooyen, who was dubbed a ‘weekend special’ minister after occupying the Finance Ministry for a weekend under former Jacob Zuma’s Administration.
Former Black First Land First leader and a rwturning member of parliament, Andile Mgxithama was also sworn in as the MK member with former president Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma- Sambudla and MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela.
Former Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa who is currently out on bail on bribery charges was also sworn in parliament to represent the ANC as a member of Parliament.