'The land belongs to the nation', says newly sworn in MK Party MP John Hlophe

CAPE TOWN - Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party parliamentary leader John Hlophe says his party is unapologetic about the fight for land, adding that the country’s laws must be Africanised to accommodate this.

The impeached former judge president was among the party’s 58 members who finally took their oath in Parliament on Tuesday, after boycotting the swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.

Hlophe said the party was not entering Parliament to engage in petty politicking.

A judge of almost three decades, Hlophe said he’s ready for his new role as the official opposition leader in Parliament.

Hlophe says his party will be working with progressive parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and EFF leader Julius Malema has already offered to show the newbies the ropes.

"We are going to engage in very robust debate but in a respectful manner, but please make no mistake we are not going to allow ourselves to be bullied by anyone."

But the party’s main order of business will be ensuring land for the landless.

"The land in Africa can never be the subject of private ownership, the land belongs to the nation, it does not form part of private ownership."

By finally pitching in Parliament - Hlophe said it doesn’t mean the party is abandoning its legal challenges against last month’s election results.