By: Saneliso Mlambo
Xiluva Party founder Bongani Baloyi made a shocking political announcement on Thursday, 5 September 2024 that him and all Xiluva leaders have joined the former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe.
Baloyi announced the news during a media briefing at the Gauteng Young Women’s Christian Association hall in Soweto.
Baloyi is the former Democratic Alliance (DA) Mayor of Midvaal and also a former member of ActionSA. He formed Xiluva, meaning “flower,” in 2023 in a bid to compete in the 2024 national and provincial elections.
Baloyi said this was a collective decision by the party’s leadership following their performance in the 2024 general elections. After its dismal performance, Xiluva leaders began a process of evaluating the party’s future. They came to an agreement that Xiluva carries the same values as MK, it would be best to collapse the party and join Zuma’s new formed machine.
“We began a process of conducting due diligence on MK Party. And it became clear that we are 100% aligned in ideology, in our understanding of the nation’s challenges. And, most importantly, in how we respond to these challenges in a manner that brings about the full liberation and emancipation of black people,” said Baloyi.
Baloyi is not the first to jump into fast growing MK political home. He joins several other high profile including former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, former judge president John Hlophe and former.
Zuma, the president of the MK party, has encouraged all black political parties to unite with MK to bring about meaningful changes in South Africa.