Pietermaritzburg – A power play within the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party has seen three senior members suspended, including a prominent figure with close ties to a former president.
The suspensions, announced on Wednesday, follow allegations of serious irregularities and breaches of the party's constitution. The swift action by newly appointed Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu highlights a clear assertion of authority within the party's ranks.
Those facing suspension are Kwazi Mbanjwa, Thobani Zuma, and Sifiso Zuma, all members of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. Their suspensions are pending the outcome of internal disciplinary processes. The move comes after a leaked letter, dated 31 December 2024, from Shivambu himself outlined the charges against each individual.
The letter details accusations against Kwazi Mbanjwa, focusing on his alleged refusal to relinquish control of the party's legislative bank accounts. Despite direct instructions from senior party leadership, including President Inkosi Chiliza and Treasurer-General Dr Thanti Mthanti, Mbanjwa allegedly failed to comply with the directive to transfer control to a provincial working team headed by Willies Mchunu.
Mchunu, the former ANC premier of KwaZulu-Natal, joined the MK Party in October 2024 and was immediately appointed provincial convener, leading to the disbandment of existing provincial structures and the establishment of this new working team.
Shivambu's letter to Mbanjwa is explicit: “After the above working team was established, all leadership structures were replaced in accordance with [the MK Party constitution], which affords the president of the MK Party the discretion to change and or dissolve the structures of the high command. Despite a directive from the high command to hand over all MK Party banking accounts to the provincial convener, Mr Willies Mchunu, the treasurer-general, Dr Thanti Mthanti, and the party leader, Inkosi Chiliza, by 4 December 2024, you failed and/or refused to do so.
"To add onto your non-compliance or refusal, on 10 December 2024, you wrote to the KwaZulu-Natal legislature without the required prior consent from the president of the MK Party or the national high command, unconstitutionally divulging confidential and internal party information to third parties.”
The letter further alleges that Mbanjwa's actions extended beyond financial mismanagement. He is accused of breaching party protocol by communicating directly with the KwaZulu-Natal legislature without the necessary authorisation from the party's national leadership. This communication, according to the letter, involved the release of sensitive internal party information to external parties.
Sifiso Zuma faces separate, but equally serious, allegations. He is accused of exceeding his authority by unilaterally employing 65 individuals as party employees without the requisite approvals.
Shivambu's letter to Zuma states: "It has come to the attention of the MKP that you unilaterally and unlawfully, without prior consent from the president, secretary-general or treasurer-general entered into contractual obligations on behalf of the MKP. You signed 65 employment contracts and appointment letters.
"Your actions were unconstitutional and invalid in terms of the MKP constitution, as you lacked the necessary authority to bind the party contractually. Your actions have resulted in the party being out of pocket in the sum of large amounts of money. MKP reserves its legal rights of recourse against you."
Thobani Zuma's alleged transgressions remain unspecified in the publicly available information.
MK Party National Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed the suspensions and outlined the immediate consequences for each individual. He stated, “Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa will be immediately removed as Chief Whip, and suspended as a member of the KZN Provincial legislature pending the outcomes of the disciplinary process.
Mr Thobani Zuma has also been suspended as a member of the KZN Provincial legislature with immediate effect, pending the outcomes of a disciplinary process. Mr Sifiso Zuma has been issued with a cautionary suspension as Caucus Manager with immediate effect, pending the outcomes of the disciplinary process.” Ndhlela emphasised that all three cases have been referred to the party's national prosecutor for disciplinary hearings.
Ndhlela further underscored the party's commitment to accountability and discipline, stating, “The Umkhonto weSizwe Party has zero tolerance for ill-disciplined behaviour and recalcitrant conduct from its members. These comrades are advised to present their cases accordingly to the national disciplinary committee in their respective disciplinary processes. As an organisation that aims to ensure that it reflects discipline and accountability through its members, the MK Party must demonstrate its ability to lead society with dignity and integrity from within its own ranks as an organisation.”
