Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has triggered a dispute by abruptly dismissing and substituting 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) only weeks after their late swearing-in on July 25.
The unexpected and sweeping changes have caused significant turmoil within the party, leading to accusations of cronyism and power struggles.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza issued letters to several of the removed MPs.
In the letters, Didiza advises the members that she received communication from the MK party’s chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, indicating that their party memberships have been revoked, which makes them ineligible to continue serving in Parliament.
An insider within the MK party claimed that Ngubane, along with Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma, was behind the MPs’ removal.
“They will undermine the party as they seek to install their own friends and relatives in parliamentary roles,” said the member, who preferred to remain unnamed due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
The insider added that Jacob Zuma was not informed about the purge, suggesting a possible gap between the party’s leadership and its internal affairs.
This upheaval reflects a pattern of instability within the MK party. Earlier in July, Zuma dismissed secretary-general Arthur Zwane, who was later reinstated and then removed again.
Zwane reportedly became quite popular among MK party supporters, a fact that allegedly displeased Zuma’s inner circle, including Sambudla-Zuma.
Sambudla-Zuma has refuted any involvement in the ousting of party members, claiming that she faces undue scrutiny due to her relationship with the former president.
She remarked, “Certain members of the ANC have been identified as trying to infiltrate the MK party to seize control for themselves. They are using strategically placed agents to undermine me and take over the party.”
The MK party, struggling to assert its role in South African politics, is no stranger to internal disputes. Created by Zuma in 2023 after a contentious break from the ANC, the party seeks to uphold the principles of the ANC’s armed wing, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
Although the party is relatively new, it has been marked by internal divisions, with Zuma’s leadership facing scrutiny from both critics and supporters.
Sipho Tyira, the party’s parliamentary spokesperson, has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the MPs’ removal but promised a detailed statement would be made before the evening of August 8.
“We acknowledge the concerns and rumors surrounding recent developments and will address them in our upcoming statement,” Tyira stated.
Parliament has confirmed that it received notice from the MK party about its decision to remove 15 of its representatives from the National Assembly. According to the Constitution, membership in the National Assembly is lost if a person is no longer affiliated with the party that nominated them.
Additionally, the Speaker has received emails from individuals on the party’s reserve list, indicating they are not available to fill any vacancies. These communications were sent through the party’s chief whip. The Speaker is currently reviewing these documents and will reach a decision soon.
