In Kokstad, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo greeted a group of former ANC members who had joined the party, viewing their decision as an indication of increasing faith in the party’s goals and direction.
Nomvalo told his followers in the town in southern KwaZulu-Natal that the influx of ANC members shows the changing political climate, as more and more South Africans are looking for fresh leadership in the run-up to the next elections.
Nomvalo informed party members that they were honoured to have them join the MK Party. “People are seeking a political home that pays attention to their worries and is dedicated to real change,” they said, “and their decision shows that.”
Attracting both party members and people of the neighbourhood, the event provided an opportunity for MK Party leaders to fortify grassroots infrastructure in the area. Nomvalo stressed that getting out into the communities of KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces is still the party’s top priority.
Officials from the MK Party have stated that the recent defectors are part of a larger trend of people showing interest in joining the party. The party attributes its increasing backing to people who are unhappy with the current government and want a change in course.
WATCH: MK Party Secretary-General, Sibonelo Nomvalo, welcoming members who have joined them from the ANC in Kokstad in southern KwaZulu-Natal – KZN Tonight Podcast pic.twitter.com/Z4sC5bdsKE
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Nomvalo reminded the new members that membership comes with both privileges and obligations, and he asked them to take an active role in developing the organization.
Every political movement is only as strong as its members. He emphasised that the organization’s goal was to increase the number of strong branches, mobilise communities, and advocate for the interests of ordinary South Africans.
Since its foundation, the MK Party has grown rapidly, becoming a major political force in KwaZulu-Natal in particular. Party leaders are still out and about across the province, trying to rally supporters and win over those who have defected to the opposition.
According to political scientists, when members of one party defect to another, it usually means that voters’ opinions are changing or that there are changes occurring inside the political system. Even though the African National Congress (ANC) is still a major political party in South Africa, rival groups have been trying to take advantage of the discontent of its members and supporters.
According to Nomvalo, the MK Party’s continued focus is on attracting new members and strengthening ties within the existing membership.
He emphasised that the organization’s doors are always open to any and all South Africans who share their belief in its mission and vision for the future of the country.
Leaders from the MK Party expressed optimism at the end of the Kokstad meeting that the party’s support in the region will increase as they ramp up their mobilisation efforts for the next election campaigns.
