Mngxitama, Van Rooyen return to Parliament as MK MPs with land, economy on their respective agendas
The MK Party's 58 MPs sworn in on Tuesday included mostly new faces who’ve never set foot in Parliament.
Andile Mngxitama (seated centre) was sworn in as an MK Party MP in Parliament in Cape Town on 25 June 2024. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Parliament on Tuesday welcomed back a handful of its former MPs who left their respective parties only to return years later as MK Party MPs.
The newly sworn-in MK Party members include former Economic Freedom Fightes (EFF) MPs Sipho Mbatha and Andile Mngxitama, who left Parliament a decade ago after being expelled after falling out with the red berets' leadership.
Former African National Congress (ANC) MP and finance minister, Des van Rooyen, also returned as an MK MP, vowing to reclaim the economy.
The MK Party's 58 MPs sworn in on Tuesday included mostly new faces who’ve never set foot in Parliament.
Former BLF leader Andile Mngxitama is now with the MK Party. pic.twitter.com/DiOFtaoQUb
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 25, 2024
Former finance minister Des van Rooyen and the husband of EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane - David Skosana - have taken their oath as MPs. LD pic.twitter.com/RKT9W4La7M
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 25, 2024
But the MK caucus also saw old hands, like Mngxitama, who was expelled by the red berets about a decade ago.
But the message hasn't changed much for Mngxitama, who wants the land question to be revisited.
"The land questions has been brought up and has been dropped. I'm here to make sure that it comes back to the agenda."
Meanwhile, Van Rooyen said that his new mission was to take over the economy.
"Take over the economy of the country, repossess the financial institutions and, of course, make sure that students continue to be funded appropriately."
Tuesday also saw the return of former EFF member of Parliament, Sipho Mbatha, who left the EFF for the UDM in 2018, before his swearing-in as an MK MP.