DA says it will continue to keep close eye on MK Party, EFF

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament said it will continue to keep a close eye on the two main opposition parties, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), to ensure they don’t destroy the work and processes of the legislature.  

The DA is of the view that their replacement in the seventh administration is not much of an effective opposition.  

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Last week, less than half of MK Party and EFF members were in the house when the National Assembly passed the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, prompting the DA to question how seriously they are taking their jobs.  

Despite having given up the opposition benches for a seat in government, the DA’s deputy chief whip, Baxolile Nodada, said its parliamentary role hasn’t changed much from the previous administration to this one.  

“The fact that we are no longer the official opposition doesn’t change our work in any way in Parliament because we need to continue being robust in conducting oversight, being the lawmakers that we are. It puts us in a better position now, because everything has to be negotiated.”  

Sticking to its mantra of being builders rather than breakers, the DA said it will guard against the opposition attempting to dismantle the gains made by Parliament.  

“We do feel the opposition has been weakened, but I think it’s also our responsibility, as a party in government that was in opposition for years, to make sure we hold the current government to account in the work we do in Parliament.” 

The party said it will also continue to call out corruption within the opposition, including the EFF’s links to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, and attempts by the MK Party to have its parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).