Former South African President and current leader of uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK), Jacob Zuma, boldly declared that if his party had been in power, poverty in the country would have been eradicated. Speaking at the party’s first Anniversary Celebration rally held at Vosloorus Stadium in Ekurhuleni on Saturday, 30 November, Zuma addressed a crowd of hundreds of MK supporters. He emphasized that MK’s formation was rooted in the liberation of black South Africans from both economic hardship and systemic suffering.
“We wanted to take back the country and govern it properly,” Zuma said with conviction. “In fact, if we were in government, there would have been no poverty right now.” The former president reflected on the party’s mission to restore dignity and justice to black communities, criticizing the current leadership for not doing enough to uplift the masses. He lamented that there are still those who align themselves with “the white people” rather than prioritizing the interests of the black majority.
In a bold assertion that hinted at the party’s long-term vision, Zuma stated, “MK is the future,” adding that it was only a matter of time before they took charge of the nation. “In a few years, we will be the ones leading this country. All the thieves who were counting the votes will be removed, and we’ll have pastors removing them for us,” he said. Zuma also revealed that MK had launched a legal challenge against the results of the 29 May elections, alleging that their votes had been stolen.
The rally marked just the beginning of a series of events in the party’s year-long celebration, which will culminate in a major event on 15 December at Moses Mabhida Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal. MK’s Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu, spoke of the party’s growing momentum, describing the Gauteng rally as the launch of a broader program to commemorate their first anniversary. He outlined plans for similar events across various provinces, including Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, as a testament to MK’s success as a new and dynamic political force.
The event also saw former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP and human rights activist, Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, formally joining MK. In her speech, Litchfield-Tshabalala touched on the pressing issue of women’s representation in politics, stressing the need to dismantle self-hate and patriarchal structures. She pointed out the sobering statistic that only three women have held presidential positions in Africa, underscoring the long road ahead in the fight for gender equality in leadership roles.
As MK continues to build its presence, its leaders remain determined to chart a new course for South Africa, one that promises to challenge the status quo and prioritize the struggles of the black majority. With Zuma’s fiery rhetoric and the support of passionate party members, the MK party is setting the stage for a future they believe will be defined by transformation and justice.
