The scene was solemn at the National Assembly of South Africa as the 58 MPs from Jacob Zuma’s MK party took the oath of office, ten days after the official ceremony. Despite ongoing challenges to the election results, they have chosen to join the opposition as a broader government of national unity takes shape.
Opponents of President Ramaphosa include Duduzile Zuma, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, and former judge John Hlophe, who have now taken their seats in the chamber. Despite the MK party’s goal of abolishing the Constitution, its deputies took an oath to protect it. John Hlophe, now leader of the opposition, firmly emphasized: “We are not thugs.”
The MK party is expected to ally with Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), thus bringing 100 seats to the opposition. A modest number compared to the ruling coalition, which holds more than two thirds of the 400 seats in the Assembly. However, a week after the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the coalition has still not formed a government, a sign of potential instability that the opposition hopes will lead to a rapid collapse.
As the country holds its breath, political tensions are felt and everyone holds their breath waiting to see how this situation will evolve. South Africa is currently navigating choppy waters, demonstrating once again the complexity of its evolving democracy.
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