Despite ongoing internal spats, the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party continues to punch above its weight, as party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela asserts.
He further expressed that the party has shelved its plans to become the official opposition party in, and is rather focused on its course to being the ruling party in South Africa.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika this week, Ndhlela said if there’s one thing that the MK Party, established in December 2023, needs to be commended on, it is that in the space of six months, it has received an overwhelming response from South Africans.
Fastest-growing
“South Africans believe in us. South Africans continue to believe in us. Now, our party status is that we are the fastest-growing political party in the country, let’s not forget that.
“Secondly, the majority of the Members of Parliament are below the age of 50, and the majority of them have never been in Parliament. We are, in fact, punching above our weight, contrary to whatever other people may be saying,” he said.
Ndhlela said the party welcomes the scrutiny by the public because it’s that what helps them grow.
“No one can say that Umkhonto Wesizwe’s presence is not felt in Parliament,” he said.
Recent incidents
This week, Eugene Ndlangamandla, regional coordinator of the MK Party in the Umkhanyakude district in northern KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly tendered his resignation.
In a letter to the party, he stated that he has observed unfair treatment.
“MKP seems to operate more like a family and friends business rather than a political party to liberate black people. I have noticed a lack of discipline among members,” he said.
Ndlangamandla said he will be joined Shivambu’s Mayibuye Consultation Team.
In recent weeks, the party has been hit with several challenges, including the alleged use of its Parliamentary leader, John Hlophe’s electronic email signature to issue a letter removing Ndhlela from the party’s whippery, and referring to the party president’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, as rude.
Ndhlela has also reportedly filed a R3 million defamation lawsuit against former MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu who accused Ndhlela of using drugs and alcohol.
On Wednesday, reported that while Shivambu remains a member of the party, his actions will be reviewed.
There have also been calls for the party’s Parliamentary Whip, Colleen Makhubele’s, removal. reported that the party’s Parliamentary caucus wants the newly-appointed chief whip to be shown the door amid claims that she makes unilateral and undemocratic decisions, betrays party ideology – particularly in relation to her stance on Israel – and demonstrates poor leadership.
Last month, nine new MPs were sworn in following axing of several MPs last year.
Instability
Speaking to , independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego, said the turnover within the party’s senior leadership centred around Zuma’s whims. He added that Zuma was looking for a SG of a particular calibre.
“It’s not the party’s membership that determines that. Skills and popularity with members don’t matter; what matters is who Zuma wants.”
Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast said conflict is natural.
“These problems are not going to grow legs and go away by itself,” he said in an interview with eNCA.
Breakfast added that a strategy that the MK Party can employ, is to have democratic processes in place that will help to de-escalate some of the tensions within the party.
Path to power
Responding to a question about the strength of the party, Ndhlela shrugged off the question about ‘bad sentiments’ about the party.
Instead, he said that if there are changes made within the MK Party, it is to make the party stronger.
“We can’t be stopped from doing that. Changes are changes; there is nothing wrong with changes.
“It is important that we adapt to the pulse of the nation. That is what is important: being able to adapt and be flexible. We are focusing on our work. We are the incoming government. We are not focusing on being the official opposition. We are focusing on being in government. It’s a path to power,” he said.
