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Leadership shake-up at Jacob Zuma’s breakaway MK party

Leadership shake-up at Jacob Zuma’s breakaway MK party
Members of the uMkhonto Wesizwe party, Arthur Zwane,Nhlamulo Ndhlela and Andile Mngxitama arrive at Parliament to be sworn in by Acting judge president of the Western Cape Patricia Lynette Goliath , as new members of parliament for the 7th Administration.(Photo : Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA)
Velani Ludidi
By Velani Ludidi
2 Jul 2024
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Senior figures have been replaced in the MK party as Jacob Zuma shakes up its leadership. Meanwhile, Zuma has been called to appear before a disciplinary hearing of the ANC on 17 July in the wake of his suspension earlier this year after he campaigned for the new breakaway party.

In a leadership shake-up, Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has removed its secretary-general, Arthur Zwane, and treasurer-general, Danisa Zulu, from their positions. Leaked letters dated 28 June revealed Zuma’s decision to relieve them of their duties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBwlafb3BE

The letters, signed by Zuma, cited the need for more efficient use of the party’s “limited and available capital” as the reason for their dismissal.

“Owing to the need of using our limited and available capital efficiency, I have decided to relinquish you from the Secretary-General/Treasurer-General functions with immediate effect,” Zuma wrote.

Zuma also indicated that both Zwane and Zulu would soon be engaged in new roles within the organisation. Details of these new roles have not been provided.

The MK party swiftly moved to fill the vacancies, appointing Dr Sifiso Maseko as the new secretary-general and Menzi Magubane as the new treasurer-general. 

Read more in Daily Maverick: SA Parliament rogues’ gallery – the multiple MPs with a chequered past in the House of Dishonourable

The letters of dismissal from Zuma emerged at the same time as Zwane announced his resignation from MK. In a letter dated July, posted on his X account, Zwane cited the overwhelming workload and his competing business interests as reasons for his departure. “In the last two weeks, I have realised that the volume of work in my office is huge and beyond my limits, especially because I have other competing business interests that I’m pursuing,” Zwane stated.

MK MK party members, from left, Arthur Zwane, Nhlamulo Ndhlela and Andile Mngxitama arrive at Parliament to be sworn in as MPs for the seventh administration. (Photo: Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA)



Zwane expressed gratitude for the confidence Zuma had shown in him, from his initial appointment as deputy secretary-general to the promotion to secretary-general. He assured that he would be available to assist with the transition to the newly appointed secretary-general, and offered to continue helping with organisational matters on a part-time basis.

The abrupt changes in leadership and the timing of Zwane’s resignation have raised questions. At the time of going go press, Daily Maverick was not able to get comment from the two former MK leaders to clarify the sequence of events.

Last week, disgraced former judge John Hlophe, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla  and Andile Mngxitama were among 58 MPs who were sworn in as members of parliament. 

Read more in Daily Maverick: New MPs – Impeached Judge Hlophe, other MK Party members and ANC’s Kodwa sworn in

Hlophe will lead the party in Parliament and his name has been submitted to the list of MPs who will represent the National Assembly at the Judicial Service Commission. Other nominees include Athol Trollip and EFF leader Julius Malema. The confirmed list will be announced on Tuesday afternoon after Parliament has debated it. 

ANC sets date for Zuma’s disciplinary hearing


Parallel to the internal turmoil within the MK party, the ANC has scheduled 17 July for Zuma’s disciplinary hearing. This follows the postponement of the initial hearing on 7 May owing to concerns about large gatherings of Zuma supporters at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had previously said the party aimed to avoid potential chaos from such gatherings. The ANC’s decision to suspend Zuma in January stemmed from his efforts to undermine the party by campaigning for MK, which he joined in December 2023 after his fallout with the ANC.

Zuma’s suspension from the ANC was a unanimous decision by the party’s National Executive Committee, and was grounded in charges that he was “actively impugning the integrity of the ANC” through his actions aimed at displacing the party from power.

When announcing his support for the MK party, Zuma accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of being an agent of “white monopoly capital” and of being against the progress of black professionals and intellectuals.

“I cannot, and will not, campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa,” he said.

The ANC went to court to challenge the registration of the MK party and its use of the name of its disbanded military wing, but was unsuccessful in both cases. DM

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