uMkhonto weSizwe (Zulu for 'Spear of the Nation'), abbreviated as MK, and often referred to as the MK Party, is a nominally left-wing populist[3][6]South African political party, founded in December 2023. The party is named after uMkhonto weSizwe (also shortened to MK), the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) which was active during the apartheid regime in South Africa. However, the ANC has threatened legal action over the usage of the name,[9] and the formation has been criticised by original MK veterans.[10]
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.[11] 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".[12][13]
Since the creation of the party, all opinion polling has shown it holds strong support in the province of KwaZulu-Natal,[24][25] with black and coloured residents being the most favourable of the party.[26] In early 2024 published opinion polls projected that the MK Party would cut significantly into the ANC vote within the province,[27][28][29][30] and attracted a polling percentage up to 35.6%.[24] The party also attracted significant percentages in the immediate north-western province of Mpumalanga.[24] Following the declaration of the election results of the National and Provincial Elections, MK Party secured 14.58% of the national votes. This translates to 58 seats in the National Assembly.
In January 2024, Black First Land First party leader Andile Mngxitama announced that he had joined the party, although he stated that BLF would not cease to exist, and that it was an electoral pact.[31]
Infighting
The party has experienced infighting, with a number of resignations and dismissals, including party founder Jabulani Khumalo and others on the 2024 election list.[32][33]
In response to his dismissal, Khumalo claimed that he was still president, that Zuma was merely a consultant, and in turn suspended Zuma, asking the IEC to remove the Zuma's name from the candidate lists.[34] The IEC subsequently ruled in favour of Zuma and allowed him to remain on the party's lists, noting his status as the MK Party's registered leader.[35]
On 14 June 2024, the party would suffer a setback in its native province of KwaZulu-Natal after the provincial legislature elected a rival IFP member, Thami Ntuli, as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.[39] Ntuli defeated the MK Party's premier candidate, Zulu Nation deputy prime minister Phathisizwe Chiliza, with 41 votes to 39.[40]
^From 2024, seats in the National Assembly are determined by a combination of the national ballot, and the nine regional ballots. Only the national ballot figures are shown here.
^ ab"Zuma deals new blow to ANC hopes in S. Africa election". France24. 16 December 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Zuma said he would vote for the radical new left-wing Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) party, named after the ANC's old armed wing, and urged all South Africans to reject the ANC.
^ ab"South Africa's Zuma Fails to Show Up at Rally for His New Party". Voice of Africa. 21 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. TEMBISA, South Africa – Supporters of South Africa's embattled former president Jacob Zuma's newly-formed radical right-wing party said Sunday they hope he might soon be the country's leader again, even though he failed to show up at their rally.