MK Party desires official opposition status in Parliament
The party is supported by the EFF, which wants the order on the speaker's list during debates to reflect the MK Party’s size in the assembly.
Members of the MK Party sing and chant outside the Constitutional Court hearing in Johannesburg on 10 May 2024 over their leader and former President Jacob Zuma’s eligibility to stand for Parliament. Picture: AFP
CAPE TOWN - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party wants Parliament to consider it as the official opposition and it also wants to be the first to speak during debates.
The party is supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which wants the order on the speaker's list during debates to reflect the MK Party’s size in the assembly.
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The party made the call during Thursday’s National Assembly programme committee sitting.
The MK Party won 14.5% of the vote at the elections, which translates into 58 seats in the National Assembly, making it the third biggest party in the country.
But the second biggest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is now part of the coalition government and is no longer the official opposition.
It’s for this reason that EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party should be elevated, even in the speaking order.
“But they [the DA] can’t speak first. They can’t speak before MK. They are in government. Imagine if the minister of agriculture [DA leader John Steenhuisen] is debating and the first respondent is the ANC [African National Congress], the DA, and the official opposition is going to come in fourth opportunity - there’s no debate for about four speakers.”
Speaker Thoko Didiza said the matter is not up to her and should be considered by the rules review committee.