Lindsay Dentlinger25 June 2024 | 5:29

After boycotting first sitting of Parliament, MK Party deployees set to be sworn in as MPs

The party said it took the decision to turn-up after a period of critical reflection and strategic consultation with the party leadership.

After boycotting first sitting of Parliament, MK Party deployees set to be sworn in as MPs

An MK Party media briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg on 16 June 2024. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News

CAPE TOWN - After its initial boycott of the first sitting of Parliament, the MK Party's 58 deployees are expected to be sworn in on Tuesday. 

But the party said this did not mean it accepted the May election results over which it has been staying away from Parliament. 

Controversial former Western Cape judge president, John Hlophe, is expected to lead the party’s parliamentary caucus. 

The MK Party said it was ready to report for parliamentary duty. 

As the third-largest party in Parliament but not a party to the Government of National Unity (GNU), it will now also be the official opposition. 

The party said it took the decision to turn up after a period of critical reflection and strategic consultation with the party leadership. 

But the party's hand has also been forced by potentially losing out on parliamentary funding if it continued with its stay-away.

The party said it would continue to challenge the election results and does not recognise the legitimacy of the first sitting at which Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as president. 

MK said that under the leadership of Hlophe, who was impeached by Parliament in February, it would expose the covert dealings of the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s partnership with the African National Congress (ANC), which it said was a treacherous and unholy coalition.