A former judge in South Africa, who was ousted four months ago for misconduct, has been sworn in as a member of parliament for the former president Jacob Zuma‘s party.
John Hlophe was one of 58 uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) MPs sworn in when the party ended its boycott of parliament formed after the May 29 elections.
MK, which is about to become the official opposition, has appointed Dr. Hlophe appointed to lead his team in parliament.
This is despite the fact that Dr Hlophe was removed as a judge following findings of misconduct.
An investigation found that Dr Hlophe, the leading judge in the Western Cape province, tried to influence judges of the country’s highest court in a case linked to Mr Zuma.
He approached two judges in 2008 to see if they would support Mr Zuma in a decision regarding a corruption case.
He denied any wrongdoing and said it was a political matter.
MK emerged as the third largest party in the elections and played a major role in the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in thirty years.
Zuma campaigned for MK after a huge row with the ANC and its leader, President Cyril Ramapahosa.
The ANC has signed a coalition agreement with the second largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and eight smaller parties to form a new government.
The 58 new Knesset lawmakers were sworn in more than a week after lawmakers from other parties did so.
MK had boycotted parliament, claiming the elections were marred by irregularities. She has provided no evidence to support her claim.
On Tuesday, MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the party’s decision to end the boycott “in no way constitutes an acceptance” of the election results.
He also said that MK was “proud” to have Dr. Hlophe as parliamentary leader, praising him as an “impeccable lawyer and seasoned activist”.
He was chosen for the post after South Africa’s highest court ruled that the constitution prevented Mr Zuma from becoming an MP after he was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for defying a court order to cooperate in a judge-led investigation into corruption. during his nine-year presidency.
During his swearing-in, Dr. Hlophe said he was “grateful” to Zuma and the MK leadership for founding the party. He added that the ANC had “completely lost its way”.
“This is not the ANC we used to know,” he said.
Lawson Naidoo, an expert on the South African constitution, said the “anomaly” that allowed Dr Hlophe to become an MP will have to be addressed at some point.
He told the BBC that the constitution banned an impeached president from holding public office, but not a judge.
Mr Zuma swapped the ANC for the newly formed MK just five months before the election – ensuring they won almost 15% of the vote.
In addition to boycotting parliament, MK refused to recognize Ramaphosa as president of South Africa.
Just over a week ago, Mr Ramphosa was elected by parliament for a second term, with the support of the DA and some smaller parties.
Mr Zuma has described the ANC’s deal with the DA as an “unholy alliance” between black and white elites for the benefit of the markets, not the people.
MK advocates the nationalization of white-owned land and mines, a policy also championed by the fourth largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
This party also refuses to join a coalition government of which the DA is a part.
The coalition has been negotiating for days about the distribution of cabinet posts.
The DA, which has been the ANC’s long-term rival, has asked to take the position of vice president and take control of key ministries, local media reported.
The ANC has dismissed some of his demands as ‘outrageous’.
Mr Ramaphosa will announce his Cabinet once an agreement is reached, possibly in the coming days.
“When you have a coalition of 10 parties, there are very few parties left in parliament that can exercise an oversight role,” Naidoo told the BBC.
He added that MK and the EFF would be the main opposition parties, but it remained to be seen whether they would play the role of “spoilers” or provide “constructive opposition”.
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