After gaining full complement of MPs, MK Party says it's ready to fire on all cylinders

CAPE TOWN - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said that it was ready to fire on all cylinders after finally filling its full complement of seats in the National Assembly.

Nine new MPs were sworn in on Wednesday to take up seats left by members axed by the party last year.

Parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, said that the new MPs bring with them a wealth of experience to bolster the opposition benches.

A year since the national election, the official opposition party has finally been able to replenish its candidate list for vacancies in Parliament.

Hlophe said that with all 58 members now in the National Assembly, there could be no excuses for poor performance.

"Some of them were councillors involved in local government issues, others were involved in organisational issues, union work. It's a wide range of experience."

Asked why the party’s former secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, was not among the new members as previously announced by the party, Hlophe had this to say: "The list that was given to the chief whip is the list that was compiled and approved by the national officials. That's all I can say."

Chief whip, Colleen Makhubele, said that the new members would strengthen the MK Party's contribution in parliamentary committees to which they would soon be assigned.