EXPLAINER: What will happen if MK boycotts first sitting of Parliament?
All eyes are on the National Assembly as we prepare for its first sitting.
Former President and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma dances on stage of the party’s last rally in eMalahleni on 26 May 2024. Picture: AFP
Clarence Ford speaks with Barbara Friedman about this and other stories that are trending online.
Listen below.
Despite being only a few months old, the MK Party is the third biggest party in the country, having secured 58 seats in parliament.
However, the party has threatened to boycott the first sitting.
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In the first sitting of the new parliament, important positions such as the president and the speaker will be elected.
If the MK party and its members boycott the first sitting, the remaining members of parliament can continue with the vote as normal.
Only a third of the members must be present for the vote to be valid.
If the 58 MK officials are not sworn in, the National Assembly can strip them of their membership and they can be replaced by other members of the party.
“Does MK have 58 people ready to pack their suitcases and come to live here in Pelican Park?”
– Barbara Friedman
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.