Andile Mngxitama's BLF joins up with Zuma-backed MK Party
Mngxitama said his party would not contest the upcoming elections but would take on the task of monitoring the work of parliamentarians.
Black First Land First (BLF) leader Andile Mngxitama. Picture: Christa Eybers/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Andile Mngxitama's Black First Land First (BLF) has joined hands with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which is backed by former President Jacob Zuma.
This week, the BLF leader met with Zuma at his Nkandla home.
He told Eyewitness News he still believes in Zuma’s ideas of radical economic transformation.
Zuma’s been on a campaign trail, mobilising against the African National Congress (ANC) across parts of the country.
Mngxitama said his party would not contest the upcoming elections but would take on the task of monitoring the work of parliamentarians.
He's also hit out at criticism levelled against those in support of Zuma due to the former president’s advanced age – Zuma is turning 82 in April.
"We oppose ageism in the revolutionary project. Children died in Soweto, some of them killed by apartheid, there was no age in oppression. So long as he’s of sound mind and healthy, we see no reason why he cannot lead."
Mngxitama, who was an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament between 2014 and 2015 before he was booted out of the party, said discussions of whether he must feature on the MK Party’s list of candidates for the National Assembly are yet to take place.
He’s also shared his thoughts on what it would take for him to work with the EFF again.
"MK is going to determine the relationships we are going to enter into, they will be determined by a progressive agenda. If Julius and the EFF abandon their white agenda of supporting the DA, and coming into the radical transformation agenda, then they are most welcome."