Cape Town – The political landscape in South Africa has taken a dramatic turn with the swearing in of a new batch of MPs, including controversial figures and a reality TV star, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape.
The latest group of MPs, including former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MK) members, were sworn in on Wednesday at the Goodhope Chamber Building in Cape Town.
Among the new MPs are reality TV celebrity and veteran singer Gezani Eric Nkovani, popularly known as Papa Penny, and Sinawo Thambo, who is anticipated to take Floyd Shivhambu’s place.
The swearing in of the new MPs comes after a highly competitive election in May that saw the eight-month-old MK Party emerge as the official opposition. The party's rise to prominence has been marked by controversy and internal strife, with a recent decision to remove 18 MPs from their positions leading to a legal battle in the Western Cape High Court.
[WATCH] Papa Penny, Mzwanele Manyi and former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe are sworn in as new MK Party MPs. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/co01TEa4uk
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 28, 2024
The new MK MPs are taking over their new roles following the removal of 18 MPs, who have since taken the party to court to overturn the decision by the party. The fired former MPs claim that the resignation letters given to Didiza were fraudulent as they never signed them.
The MK Party members, represented by Wendy Cele & Associates, want the court to review and set aside the MK Party's decision to terminate their membership. In court papers, the former MPs also said that the party never notified them about the decision to fire them from Parliament.
They also accused the MK Party of lying about following internal processes to fire them. The members further want the party to reconsider their decision, as some of them quit their jobs to focus their energy on representing the party in Parliament.
The new MPs include a number of high-profile figures, including former Passenger Rail Agency of SA CEO Lucky Montana, former Transnet Group CEO Siyabonga Gama, and former Eskom and Transnet boss Brian Molefe. These figures have been at the centre of controversy in recent years, with Montana being implicated in the State Capture Commission and Molefe leaving Eskom under a cloud after a fallout with former Enterprise Minister Lynn Brown.
The swearing in of these individuals has raised eyebrows, with some questioning their suitability for public office given their past controversies. However, the MK Party has defended their appointments, arguing that they bring valuable experience and expertise to the party.
The new MK MPs are: Thembisile Mjadu (KZN-MK), Nompumelelo Matilda Gasa (KZN-MK), former Passenger Rail Agency of SA CEO Lucky Montana (KZN-MK), Nkovani (KZN-MK), former Transnet Group CEO Siyabonga Gama (KZN-MK), and former Eskom and Transnet boss Brian Molefe (KZN-MK).
The others are Thulani Innocent Gamede (KZN-MK) and Mogamad Nazier Paulsen (national-EFF).
The two EFF members are taking the seats left vacant by Shivambu and Manyi. Manyi, who has been the Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson, left the EFF on the same day Shivambu announced his departure. Manyi was a member of the ANC, African Transformation Movement, and the EFF for the previous five years.
