A political earthquake has struck the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, leaving 18 of its newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) jobless and facing the loss of their R1.27 million annual salary.
The sudden and brutal purge, carried out just weeks after the MPs were sworn in on 25 July, has sparked outrage and accusations of cronyism, with fingers pointed squarely at Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma.
The party's decision to remove these MPs has been met with fierce criticism, with many within the MK party alleging that the purge was orchestrated by party chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, and Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma.
An anonymous MK party insider alleged that Ngubane and Sambudla-Zuma are using their influence to install their allies in parliamentary seats, claiming, "They will destroy the party because they want their friends and relatives to occupy parliamentary seats."
The insider further claimed that former President Zuma is unaware of the ongoing purge, highlighting a concerning disconnect between the party's leadership and its internal machinations. This suggests a worrying lack of control over the party's direction and raises questions about Zuma's ability to effectively lead the party he founded.
This latest turmoil adds to the MK party's history of instability. In early July, then-secretary-general Arthur Zwane was removed from office by Zuma, only to be recalled and fired again recently. Zwane's popularity among MK party supporters allegedly did not sit well with those in Zuma's inner circle, including Sambudla-Zuma.
Zwane's removal, followed by the firing of the 18 MPs, paints a picture of a party rife with internal conflict and power struggles. The party, which was formed by Zuma in 2023 after a split from the ANC, has positioned itself as a defender of the values and principles of the armed wing of the ANC, uMkhonto weSizwe. However, its short history has been marred by factionalism, with Zuma's leadership often questioned by critics and supporters alike.
Sambudla-Zuma has denied any involvement in the purging of party members, stating that she is unfairly scrutinised due to her familial ties to the former president. She has accused certain ANC members of attempting to infiltrate the MK party and discredit her. However, her denial rings hollow in the face of accusations from within the party itself, and many are questioning her role in the current crisis.
Parliament has confirmed receipt of correspondence from the MK party notifying them of the decision to remove the 15 MPs. According to the Constitution, a person loses membership of the National Assembly if they cease to be a member of the party that nominated them.
However, MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela clarified that 18 party members have been removed from the National Assembly list. Of these, 12 MPs were sworn in on 25 June, while the other six were not due to ill-health and other reasons.
The MK party has issued a statement condemning the leaking of Ngubane's letter to Parliament to social media, stating that all internal party processes were followed and that the replaced members were informed of the intention to replace them. However, the party's statement does little to address the concerns raised by the MPs' dismissal, and many are questioning the legitimacy of the party's internal processes.
