South African politician and former Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi announced on September 5 that he is joining uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) the party led by former president Jacob Zuma.
Under Baloyi’s leadership, from 2013 to 2021 the Midvaal municipality achieved seven consecutive unqualified audits and became South Africa’s 5th best performing municipality.
Baloyi resigned from the Democratic Alliance in December 2021 after 16 years with the party. He joined ActionSA, led by Herman Mashaba, in January 2022 but resigned in March 2023 to establish his party, Xiluva.
The disappointing performance of Xiluva in South Africa’s 2024 general elections, where Baloyi’s party secured only 2,592 votes (0.02%), contributed to his decision to join Zuma’s MK party.
Baloyi’s switch to the MK Party follows a growing list of politicians joining the party including former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, former Johannesburg Speaker Colleen Makhubele, and founding president of EFF student command Mpho Morolane.
Excerpts from Bongani Baloyi’s speech on joining the MK Party
Jacob Zuma has the right and legitimacy to lead the project of consolidating the forces of the left and other progressive movements. The time for fragmentation is over.
We tried in the elections, believing we’ve got the best vision and people spoke and decisively so. People endorsed and appreciated what uMkhonto was doing because there was a need
So, when we looked at uMkhonto we saw ourselves. We resisted a lot of pressure from many people that we must go and consolidate our politics in the pockets of the Oppenheimer but we refused. Therefore we can stand here with a clear conscience because we see ourselves in yourselves.
As a result, the executive of Xiluva took the following decision. With this understanding, we as collective leadership unanimously agreed on the following
- That we are going to deregister Xiluva with the IEC effectively immediately
- That the collective leadership will all join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party
- That the collective leadership will encourage our membership to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party
- That we send our sincere appreciation and thanks to our members for their collective contribution, sacrifices, and commitment. As disciplined members, we encourage our members to join the MK Party.
