Ramaphosa takes a swipe at uMkhonto weSizwe Party, sparks backlash with claim that real MK is in ANC

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sparked a heated political debate after taking a swipe at the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, asserting that the “real” MK is within the African National Congress (ANC). During his campaign trail in KwaZulu-Natal, the President sought to reclaim the party’s historical narrative, a move that has drawn immediate backlash from supporters of the rival MK Party.

The real MK is in the ANC. Those who have left are merely using the name to confuse the electorate, but the history and the spirit of the struggle reside with us.

Ramaphosa’s comments come as the ANC faces significant electoral pressure in the eThekwini metro, where recent polls suggest the MK Party has gained substantial ground. The President’s attempt to delegitimize the opposition party by questioning its connection to the historical liberation movement has been viewed by analysts as a high-stakes strategy to win back disillusioned voters in the province.

The MK Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, has consistently maintained that it is the true successor to the values of the original uMkhonto weSizwe. Supporters of the party have criticized Ramaphosa’s remarks as desperate, arguing that the ANC has strayed from its founding principles and that the MK Party represents a necessary renewal of the liberation struggle.

As the local government elections approach, the battle for the soul of the liberation movement has intensified, with both parties vying for the support of voters who remain deeply connected to the history of the struggle against apartheid.